The Supreme Court of India granted bail to Alamgir Alam, a former Congress minister in Jharkhand, and his former personal secretary, Sanjeev Lal, in a money laundering case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Alam on May 15, 2024, following raids that uncovered over ₹32.20 crore (approximately $3.9 million USD) in cash linked to alleged commission payments from contractors for government tenders. The ED opposed bail, citing the serious nature of the allegations and the risk of witness tampering, as four key witness statements were still pending. Previously, the Jharkhand High Court denied bail, noting Alam's active role in the alleged scheme. Alam's defense argued that the prosecution relied heavily on statements from co-accused individuals and highlighted the absence of direct evidence against him. Additionally, they raised concerns about Alam's health, as he is 77 years old and has spent over two years in custody. The investigation revealed a network of engineers managing the tender process and collecting commissions, implicating several senior government officials.