PATNA: The Patna High Court today rejected the bail application of jailed former Patna District Magistrate Gautam Goswami in the multi-crore rupees flood relief scam.

Dismissing the bail application Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad said the allegations of misappropriation of funds meant for distribution among flood-hit victims were serious and it was not fit to grant bail.

The court also rejected the bail pleas of other accused in the scam. The bail pleas of the supplier of relief material Santosh Jha, deputy collector Devendra Kumar, assistant in the then DM's office Amitabh Arun and other accused were rejected.

The bench has directed the State Vigilance Bureau to complete the investigation in the case in two months time including investigation in the role of politicians in the scam.

The Vigilance team had earlier quizzed Member of Parliament Anirudh Prasad also known as Sadhu Yadav in the case.

Goswami's counsel Tuhin Shankar argued before the bench that his client was innocent and that there was serious lacuna in the probe in the case. On the other hand Vigilance advocate Y V Giri contended that there was sufficient evidence against Goswami and others.

Shankar later said that Goswami would file a bail application in the Supreme Court now.

The Patna High Court on February 8 adjourned the hearing of bail petitions of Goswami and others till February 10.

Goswami had surrendered before the Special Court on June 30 following the Patna High Court's refusal to grant an anticipatory bail. He has been in judicial custody since then at the Beur Jail at Patna.

Time magazine's `Asian Hero' Goswami has been accused of cheating, forgery and embezzlement of public money meant for relief works during the flood relief operations.

The State Vigilance Department has filed a chargesheet against Goswami, the mastermind of the scam and nine others in this case, under different sections of the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act.

Goswami was on the run for a month even though the Vigilance Bureau probing the case declared him wanted and issued non- bailable warrants against him and eight others on May 31.

Later, he surrendered before the special court, which remanded him to judicial custody till July 6. His remand has been subsequently extended.

ANI

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