Ex-Minister Alamgir Alam gets bail from SC after 2 years of jail in tender case

The Supreme Court of India on Monday, granted bail to former Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam and his private secretary, Sanjeev Lal. The bench, comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh, ordered their conditional release after hearing special leave petitions challenging a prior Jharkhand High Court order denying them relief. The court’s decision follows a long-standing legal battle, with Alam having spent nearly two years in judicial custody following his arrest in May 2024.

The high-profile money laundering case, investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), centers on an alleged organized racket that collected a fixed 3% commission from contractors for the allotment of government tenders. According to ED's findings, approximately 1.35% of the total tender value was allegedly routed directly to the minister through Sanjeev Lal. The scam, which reportedly generated over ₹90 crore in illicit proceeds from tenders worth roughly ₹3,048 crore, came to light after massive cash seizures in 2024.

The ED strongly opposed the bail pleas, arguing that the duo could influence witnesses and that the case involves "extremely serious" economic offenses. However, counsel for the 77-year-old Congress leader emphasized his age, deteriorating health, and the fact that no incriminating material was directly recovered from his person. The bench ultimately decided in favor of bail, noting that key witness examinations were nearing completion after previous directions for a speedy trial.

Following the Supreme Court's order, celebrations erupted at Alam's residence in Ranchi. Supporters and party workers were seen distributing sweets and bursting crackers to mark the legal victory of the senior leader. While the duo is expected to be released shortly, the ED's broader investigation into the syndicate continues, with multiple supplementary complaints filed against various engineers and officials involved in the department.