Friday, June 3 2005 15:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Former District Magistrate of Patna Gautam Goswami, who has been evading arrest in the multi-crore flood-relief scam, today (Jun 3, 2005) applied for anticipatory bail in a special court in Patna.

Goswami's lawyer Tuhin Shankar filed the petition in the in the court of Designated Vigilance Judge J M Prasad who is likely to take it up for hearing tomorrow.

In his bail plea, Goswami denied allegations of embezzlement and urged the court to grant him bail as he was ready to fully cooperate with the Vigilance Bureau.

"My client is also not likely to tamper with the evidence as he is no more a Government servant and is not likely to flee," Shankar said adding Goswami was also ready for interrogation whenever and wherever the Vigilance Bureau wanted.

The anticipatory bail application was filed on behalf of Goswami a day after the Vigilance Bureau enhanced the prize money for Goswami's arrest.

The Vigilance Judge had on Tuesday issued non-bailable warrants against Goswami and eight others, including Santosh Jha- the alleged kingpin of the scam who surrendered on Wednesday. Vigilance sleuths have arrested five of the 28 accused in the case.