Ex-minister Alamgir Alam walks out of jail on bail

Former Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam walked out of Birsa Munda Central Jail here on Thursday after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to an alleged tender scam being investigated by the ED. The federal probe agency had arrested the Congress leader on May 15, 2024, days after around Rs 32 crore in cash was seized from premises linked to his aide. Alam had earlier moved the Jharkhand High Court seeking bail, but the court had rejected his plea, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the ongoing investigation. Challenging it, he moved the Supreme Court, which, after hearing arguments from both sides, granted him bail. "I am out of jail on bail after two years. I am happy that people in my area remembered the work I have done for them. Many of them met me in jail. During this time, I also figured out who truly stands by me," Alam told reporters at his residence after his release. Alam said he had always been a law-abiding citizen and had appeared before the ED after receiving notice.