SC Grants Bail to Former Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam in Tender ‘Scam’ Case

New Delhi (IANS): The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to former Jharkhand Rural Development Minister and senior Congress leader Alamgir Alam and his private secretary, Sanjeev Lal, in a high-profile money laundering case. The decision, delivered by a Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh, provides significant legal relief to the 76-year-old politician who has been in custody since May 2024.

The Apex Court’s Decision

The Supreme Court ordered the conditional release of the accused after hearing Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) that challenged a July 2025 order from the Jharkhand High Court. Previously, on April 2, the apex court had fast-tracked the examination of four key witnesses, directing the trial court to complete the process within four weeks.

During the proceedings, Alam’s counsel highlighted the 76-year-old leader’s prolonged incarceration and argued that the trial faced delays due to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) repeatedly filing supplementary prosecution complaints.

Background: The Commission Racket

The case, which the ED is investigating, centers on an alleged commission racket within Jharkhand’s Rural Development Department. The federal agency claims that contractors were forced to pay a 3% commission on the total value of tenders to secure projects.

Key details of the ED probe include:

• Cash Seizure: Raids conducted on May 6, 2024, at premises linked to associates led to the recovery of approximately ₹32.20 crore in cash.

• Proceeds of Crime: The ED alleges the scam generated over ₹90 crore in illicit funds related to tender allocations totaling nearly ₹3,048 crore.

• Distribution Network: Investigators claim 1.35% of the commission reached Alam through his secretary, while the remainder was distributed among departmental engineers and officials.

High Court’s Previous Stance

The Jharkhand High Court had earlier denied bail, citing that economic offenses involving “deep-rooted conspiracies” pose a serious threat to the nation’s financial health. Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad had remarked in July 2025 that there was sufficient prima facie evidence to suggest the accused were involved in handling the proceeds of crime.

However, with the Supreme Court’s latest order, Alam and Lal will now be released under specific conditions as the trial continues.