Gautam Goswami, former Patna district magistrate, is once again in trouble. This time its over arms licences sanctioned by him during his tenure.
The state home department has sought a list of arms licenses issued during his two stints as Patna DM.
"The department sought the list after it came to light that arms licenses had been issued arbitrarily to many politicians and their kin in violation of the prescribed norms," official said.
The collectorate office of Patna has informed the department that as many as 457 arms licenses were issued during Goswami's tenure as Patna DM. Interestingly, over 200 of them were issued in the last month of his second tenure this year.
Sources in the department told rediff.com that an inquiry would be conducted into the sanction of arms licenses during his tenure.
According to officials, Goswami issued arms licenses to a member of legislative assembly, accused in several criminal cases. He also issued licenses to some people without the mandatory requirement of a police verification and address authentification.
Goswami, the key accused in the multicrore rupee flood relief scam, had surrendered before a court in Patna in June end and was since lodged in Beur jail in Patna. Two months ago, the Urban Development department had requested Governor Buta Singh and the chief secretary to get the matter probed by a government agency.
Early this week, the state government ordered another probe against Goswami. The state Vigilance department has begun its investigation into charges of misutilisation and diversion of Rs 1.52 crore funds of the urban development department during his tenure as Patna DM.
Vigilance to file chargesheet against Goswami in flood scam
The Vigilance has constituted a four-member team to investigate the matter. "The team has already begun the process of seizure of records in the matter" official sources said. Additional Director General (Vigilance) Neelmani said another FIR against Goswami will be lodged in a month's time on the basis of the probe outcome.
Goswami is allegedly involved in misappropriation of Rs 1.52 crore, meant for Swarana Jayanti Swa Rojgar Yojna and National Slum Development Programme during his tenure as the district magistrate of Patna. His involvement in this case came to light during an inquiry by the urban development department, said officials.
The inquiry revealed that Rs 76 lakh, meant each for SJSRY and NSDP, was misappropriated between June and September 2004.
