Patna High Court on Friday dismissed the bail petition of former Patna district magistrate Gautam Goswami, the key accused in the multi-crore flood relief scam, and three other accused.

The court rejected the bail petitions of Goswami, supplier turned politician Santosh Jha, the scam's alleged kingpin, computer operator Amitabh [Images] Arun and former deputy collector Devendra Kumar, on the ground that the case was serious and not ordinary one.

Opposing the bail plea of Goswami, Bihar Vigilance Bureau lawyer Y V Giri said that since the former DM was one of the key accused in the flood relief scam, it will be inappropriate to grant him bail, particularly when the investigation was reaching a critical stage.

Goswami's lawyer pleaded to the court that since his client had completed 6 months in judicial custody he was entitled for regular bail.

Goswami and other accused have now decided to move the Supreme Court for bail.