Jharkhand ex-minister Alamgir Alam released on bail after two years; Marandi slams 'celebrations'

Ranchi, May 14 Former Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam, who had been lodged in jail for nearly two years in the high-profile tender commission scam and money laundering case linked to the state’s Rural Development Department, was released on bail on Thursday from the Birsa Munda Central Jail here.

His release came after the Supreme Court on Monday granted him bail. The formalities were completed after his wife, Nishat Alam, gave surety. His release was delayed as the Supreme Court order was not uploaded on the official portal on time.

Alamgir Alam and his private secretary, Sanjiv Lal, had been in judicial custody since May 2024. After failing to get relief from the lower court and the Jharkhand High Court, they approached the Supreme Court.

Following his release, supporters gathered outside the jail and celebrated with fireworks and the distribution of sweets. However, the celebrations drew sharp reactions from the Opposition.

Leader of the Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi took a dig at the celebrations, saying that Alam had not been honourably acquitted, but was granted only an interim relief on grounds of age and health.

In a social media post, Marandi remarked sarcastically: "Such celebrations are being held over bail as if a revolutionary has returned after fighting for the country’s freedom. Is looting crores of rupees and robbing the poor of their rights an achievement worth celebrating?"

He also recalled the incident in which a huge cache of cash -- around Rs 32.20 crore -- was recovered from the residence of Jahangir Alam, an aide of Alamgir Alam’s private secretary, for which counting machines had to be brought in.

Marandi warned that while influence and resources may fetch temporary relief, the stigma of corruption does not fade easily.

Citing the legal journey of RJD supreme Lalu Prasad, he said the shadow of such cases continues to follow those involved till the very end.

The case pertains to an organised tender commission racket in the Rural Development Department of Jharkhand. According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), around three per cent commission was allegedly extracted from contractors in lieu of awarding government tenders, of which about 1.35 per cent was purportedly passed on to the then minister.

During raids conducted on May 6, 2024, the ED recovered Rs 32.2 crore in cash from Jahangir Alam’s residence, while lakhs of rupees were seized from the residence and office of Sanjiv Lal.

The ED arrested Alamgir Alam in connection with the case on May 15, 2024.

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