By IANS,
Patna : Gautam Goswami, a former Patna district magistrate and a key accused in the Rs.170 million ($3.86 million) Bihar flood relief scam of 2004, was admitted to a hospital Saturday and his condition was described as critical, a family source said.
Goswami has been suffering from cancer for over a year.
A close relative of Goswami said that he was admitted in a private hospital in Patna after his condition deteriorated.
“His condition is critical. We have been praying for his life,” he said.
Last month Goswami’s suspension was revoked by the Bihar government on health grounds.
Goswami was named Time magazine’s Asian hero in 2005 for exemplary work in flood relief.
He is an accused in the case relating to the alleged swindling of funds meant for providing relief to flood-hit people of north Bihar in 2004. An inquiry by the vigilance bureau was ordered when President’s Rule was in force in the state in 2005.
A first information report (FIR) was filed against Goswami and 27 others May 28, 2005. Later, all the accused and scam kingpin Santosh Jha, a relief material supplier, surrendered and were sent to jail.
After spending over a year in jail, Goswami was granted bail by the Patna High Court in 2006.