The Supreme Court declined bail for Jharkhand’s former Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam and his private secretary Sanjeev Lal in a money laundering case related to a tender commission scam. The court emphasized expediting the trial process. Both accused, who have been in judicial custody for over 18 months, were denied relief, with instructions for the trial court to record key witnesses’ statements within four weeks.
Alam’s counsel highlighted delays in trial proceedings due to repeated supplementary charge sheets filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Despite arguments citing the leader’s prolonged custody since May 2024 and the absence of prosecution sanction, the court deemed these reasons insufficient for bail. Sanjeev Lal, seeking bail on similar grounds, was also denied relief temporarily.
The case originated from an ED investigation into alleged irregularities in the Rural Development Department, leading to raids at Sanjeev Lal’s premises where substantial cash and documents were seized. Alamgir Alam was arrested following the probe, with the ED alleging an organized network for collecting commissions in exchange for government tender allocations. The agency claimed that the scam involved illicit proceeds exceeding Rs 90 crore in connection with tender allocations worth around Rs 3,048 crore.
