BJP, Cong lock horns over former J’khand minister Alamgir’s bail

The Supreme Court granted bail to Alamgir Alam, former Jharkhand minister and prime accused in a high-profile multi-crore tender scam. Following the bail, Congress workers celebrated, prompting BJP to label the celebrations a 'bail festival' and accuse the ruling alliance of romanticising institutional corruption. BJP state spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo criticised the Congress leadership, citing celebrations by Congress state president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh and alleging a broader pattern of corruption under the coalition, including calls for accountability on stalled infrastructure and unemployment. Shahdeo asserted that bail is a judicial process and not an acquittal. He claimed the ED had recovered over ₹32 crore in cash from an associate’s residence, which he used to argue the case against the celebratory response. Congress spokesperson Sonal Shanti dismissed BJP’s charges as political hypocrisy, defended Alamgir Alam’s bail as rightful, and argued no monetary recoveries were made from Alam’s residence. Shanti challenged the BJP to confront its own leaders’ alleged corruption and questioned the impartiality of central investigative agencies, pointing to past allegations against BJP members and selective targeting of opposition leaders between 2019 and 2024.