Thursday, June 2 2005 11:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Santosh Kumar Jha, the alleged 'kingpin' of the flood-relief scam, was today (Jun 2, 2005) taken on police remand for five days for intense questioning by the vigilance investigation bureau which has also enhanced the reward money for a person providing clues leading to arrest of another key accused high-profile former Patna DM Gautam Goswami.

''The reward money for person providing information leading to Goswami's arrest will not be less than Rs 1 lakh as another key accused of the scam Santosh Kumar Jha, who also carried a reward on his head had already surrendered and we can spare that amount for Goswami's arrest'', said Neelmani, the Additional Director General of Vigilance Bureau probing the scam.

Neelmani said the identity of the person providing information would be kept secret.

He said three separate teams of the vigilance sleuths were on the hunt for Goswami in Lucknow and were carrying out raids on his possible hideouts in the country.

Meanwhile, the designated vigilance Judge J M Prasad allowed a prayer of the bureau to take Santosh Kumar Jha, the alleged kingpin of the scam, on five days' police remand for questioning.

Santosh Jha had yesterday (Jun 1, 2005) surrendered before the court of Prasad who remanded him to judicial custody till June 10 in connection with the scam.

The vigilance judge had on Tuesday (May 31, 2005) issued non-bailable warrants against Goswami and eighth others, including Jha.

Earlier, the vigilance sleuths had arrested five of the 28 accused in the case.