The Jharkhand High Court on Friday reserved its order on a bail petition filed by former state minister and senior Congress leader Alamgir Alam, who was arrested in connection with a high-profile tender scam being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad reserved the order after hearing arguments from both the petitioner and the ED, which is probing alleged irregularities and money laundering linked to the allotment of tenders during Alam’s tenure as the Minister for Rural Development.
Alam, a four-time legislator from Pakur, has been in custody since May 15, 2023. He was arrested shortly after ED initiated an investigation into purported corrupt practices in the tendering process under the Rural Development Department. The case came to light following the arrest of the department’s chief engineer, Virendra Ram, who allegedly played a key role in the financial irregularities.
According to the ED, Alam was instrumental in awarding tenders to selected companies in exchange for substantial commissions. The financial trail led to a series of nationwide raids, including in Delhi, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, and Patna. The agency also searched properties of senior department engineers and the residence of Alam’s personal secretary, Sanjeev Lal.
One of the most sensational findings emerged during a raid on the house of Lal’s domestic help, Jahangir Alam, where the ED reportedly recovered ₹32 crore in cash. The agency has since alleged that Alam used his associates and staff to store illegally acquired money, linking him directly to the laundering of proceeds from the tender scam.
Alam had resigned from the state cabinet following the ED’s arrest of Virendra Ram. He was later summoned for questioning and subsequently arrested for his alleged role in the case.
The High Court is expected to deliver its verdict on Alam’s bail plea in the coming days.
