Former Patna district magistrate Gautam Goswami was on Wednesday released from the Bihar capital's high-security Beur jail where he was lodged for more than a year.

The Patna high court had last week granted him bail in the case related to the multi-crore flood relief scam.

An upbeat, happy and relaxed Goswami refused to speak to the media.

Goswami has also obtained bail in another case related to a scam in the urban development department.

Goswami is the prime accused in the case that relates to the swindling of Rs 17 crore meant for providing relief to flood-hit people of north Bihar in 2004.

An inquiry into the matter by the state vigilance bureau was ordered when President's Rule was in force in the state in 2005.

Time magazine had named him as a Young Asian Hero in 2004.