SC grants bail to ex-Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam in ED tender scam case
Synopsis
The Supreme Court has granted bail to former Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam and his private secretary after over a year in custody, overturning the Jharkhand High Court's refusal. The ED-probed case involves alleged proceeds of crime exceeding ₹90 crore from tender commissions worth nearly ₹3,048 crore.
Key Takeaways
Supreme Court granted bail to Alamgir Alam and private secretary Sanjeev Lal on conditional terms.
Alam had been in custody since May 2024 — over a year — following ED raids that recovered ₹32.20 crore in cash.
The Jharkhand High Court had refused bail in July 2025 , citing prima facie guilt and the gravity of economic offences.
The ED alleges proceeds of crime exceeding ₹90 crore from tender allocations worth nearly ₹3,048 crore .
Contractors were allegedly required to pay 3% commission on tender value, with 1.35% reportedly routed to the minister.
The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to former Jharkhand Rural Development Minister and Congress leader Alamgir Alam and his private secretary Sanjeev Lal in a money laundering case linked to the alleged tender commission scam being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh ordered their conditional release after hearing special leave petitions (SLPs) that challenged the Jharkhand High Court's earlier refusal of bail.
Background of the Case
The money laundering case traces back to 6 May 2024, when the ED conducted raids at premises linked to Alamgir Alam and his associate Sanjeev Lal, allegedly recovering cash amounting to ₹32.20 crore. The agency also seized ₹10.05 lakh and a diary purportedly containing details of commission transactions.
According to the ED, contractors executing projects under the Rural Development Department were allegedly required to pay approximately three per cent commission on the total tender value. The probe reportedly revealed that nearly 1.35 per cent of the commission amount was routed to the then minister through his private secretary, while the remaining portion was distributed among senior departmental officials and engineers. The ED has claimed that the alleged scam generated proceeds of crime exceeding ₹90 crore in relation to tender allocations worth nearly ₹3,048 crore.
What the Supreme Court Said
The Justice Sundresh-led bench had earlier, on 2 April, directed expeditious examination of four key witnesses in the case and declined interim relief at that stage. The bench had instructed the trial court to complete the examination of witnesses
Point of View
Though legally reasoned, ignored the pace of the trial. The apex court's conditional bail signals that prolonged custody cannot substitute for a speedy trial, even in economic offence cases.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Alamgir Alam granted bail by the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court granted bail to Alamgir Alam after he had remained in custody since May 2024, with the trial being delayed due to repeated supplementary prosecution complaints filed by the ED. The bench ordered conditional release after hearing special leave petitions challenging the Jharkhand High Court's refusal.
What is the Jharkhand tender commission scam?
The alleged scam involves contractors executing projects under Jharkhand's Rural Development Department being required to pay around 3% commission on tender values. The ED claims proceeds of crime exceeding ₹90 crore were generated from tender allocations worth nearly ₹3,048 crore.
Why had the Jharkhand High Court refused bail to Alamgir Alam?
The Jharkhand High Court refused bail in July 2025, holding that sufficient material had been collected by the ED to show the accused were prima facie guilty. The court observed that money laundering cases involving deep-rooted conspiracies and huge loss of public funds require strict scrutiny at the bail stage.
How much cash was recovered during the ED raids?
During raids on 6 May 2024 at premises linked to Alamgir Alam and Sanjeev Lal, the ED allegedly recovered cash amounting to ₹32.20 crore, along with ₹10.05 lakh and a diary purportedly containing details of commission transactions.
What conditions has the Supreme Court imposed on the bail?
The Supreme Court ordered conditional release for both Alamgir Alam and Sanjeev Lal, though the specific conditions were part of the bench's order. The court had earlier directed the trial court to examine four key witnesses at the earliest, preferably within four weeks.
