New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the bail pleas of Jharkhand’s former Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam and his private secretary Sanjeev Lal in a money laundering case linked to an alleged tender commission scam. While denying relief, the court directed the trial court to expedite proceedings.
Court Mandates Quick Witness Examination
A bench comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh declined bail to both accused, who have remained in judicial custody for over 18 months. The bench instructed the trial court to record the statements of key witnesses within the next four weeks.
The justices clarified that they would fix the next hearing date only after the trial court completes the witness examinations.
Defense Arguments Fall Short
During the hearing, Alam’s counsel argued for the 76-year-old leader’s release, citing his custody since May 2024. The defense blamed trial delays on repeated supplementary charge sheets filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and pointed to the absence of a prosecution sanction. However, the court found these grounds insufficient to grant bail. The bench similarly denied relief to Sanjeev Lal, who sought bail on identical grounds.
The Raid and Recovery
The case stems from an ED probe into alleged irregularities within the Rural Development Department. On May 6, 2024, the agency raided premises linked to Sanjeev Lal and his associate Jahangir Alam, recovering:
-
₹32.20 crore in cash.
-
₹10.05 lakh and a diary detailing alleged commission transactions seized from Lal.
Following these findings, the ED arrested Alamgir Alam on May 15, 2024.
The Commission Network
The ED alleges that an organized network collected commissions in exchange for government tenders. According to the agency’s findings:
-
Contractors allegedly paid approximately 3% of the total contract value as a bribe.
-
The minister reportedly received 1.35% through his private secretary.
-
Senior departmental officials and engineers shared the remaining 1.65%.
The ED claims the scam generated illicit proceeds exceeding ₹90 crore related to tender allocations worth approximately ₹3,048 crore. Emphasizing the gravity of these allegations, the Supreme Court stressed the need for a swift trial while keeping the accused in custody.
