Tuesday, July 12 2005 15:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Another key accused and Deputy Collector of Patna Devendra Kumar, who was deputed by jailed former Patna District Magistrate Gautam Goswami for carrying out relief work during 2004 floods, surrendered before the special vigilance court in Patna today (July 12, 2005) in connection with the multi-crore-flood relief scam.

Kumar, who was on the run ever since the Vigilance Bureau named him in the FIR registered on May 28, gave himself up before the designated vigilance judge Jitendra Mohan Sharma this afternoon, Neelmani, Additional Director General of the Bureau told sources in Patna.

Sharma remanded him to judicial custody till July 19.

Neelmani said the Bureau also moved the court seeking to take Kumar on vigilance remand for interrogation.

"Devendra Kumar is one of the key accused along with former district magistrate Gautam Goswami and supplier of relief material Santosh Kumar Jha in the swindle of the funds meant for flood-hit victims", he said.

The designated judge had on May 31 issued non-bailable warrants of arrest against Kumar and others in connection with the scam.