Bihar flood relief scam: Bail refused to Bhagwan Lal Jha

New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) The Supreme Court today declined to grant anticipatory bail to Bhagwan Lal Jha allegedly involved in multi- crore Bihar Flood Relief scam.

A vacation bench comprising Mr. Justices Arijit Pasayat and R.V. Raveendran permitted the petitioner who is the father of the main accused Santosh Kumar Jha to withdraw his petition.

Petitioner's counsel M.P. Jha prayed for permission to withdraw the petition as Patna high court has granted anticipatory bail to RJD MP Sadhu Yadav, brother in law of Union Railway minister Lalu Prasad in the same case and he would also like to move the high court.

Earlier when the counsel for the petitioner pleaded that his client was innocent and was not involved in the scam, court wanted to know if he was innocent how Rs. 50 lakhs were deposited in his account.

The scam was unearthed in 2003 and Patna District Magistrate Gautam Goswami was suspended and subsequently arrested in the case.Santosh Kumar Jha, local contractor was also arrested in the case.Forged bills worth several crores were paid into the accounts of a bogus firm set up by Santosh Kumar Jha. Influential RJD MP Sadhu Yadav was also allegedly involved in the scandal and was granted anticipatory bail by the high court this morning.

UNI AKS/SC RP PM1912