India's disaster hero vanishes with relief fund millions

[emad]

Amelia Gentleman in New Delhi
Sunday June 5, 2005
The Observer

An Indian government official, hailed by Time magazine as a flood disaster hero, has disappeared after he was accused of stealing millions of pounds in aid money.

Police have launched a nationwide hunt for Gautam Goswami, who became a national celebrity when the US magazine commended 'his brilliant' co-ordination of rescue and relief work in the north-eastern Bihar state, where floods last July claimed 800 lives and left millions homeless.

'Goswami's reputation for upholding the law improves the image of a civil service perceived by many Indians as corrupt or inefficient,' Time wrote.

Now, however, he is accused of embezzling 170m rupees (£2m) intended for flood victims. An investigation into widespread irregularities in the distribution of relief money raised questions about persistent corruption in the civil service. Patchy distribution of flood relief money triggered bitter complaints from victims. Five people were killed when police opened fire on people protesting at the failure of aid to materialise.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1499527,00.html

[expatriot]

1. "Money....it’s a hit. Don’t give me that do goody good bullshit." -Pink

[BlueJazz]

2. In other News, The Bush Administration is also trying hard.....

..to find Goswami.
"We think there is a real place for him in one of our important cabinet positions": Quoted a White House spokesman..

[Straight Shooter]

3. Petty change compared to what the bush cabal is stealing from Americans.

Money = power

[lonestarnot]

5. 8 Billion 2 Million missing in Iraq alone

[tlcandie]

4. Maybe someone killed him and took the $$$$?

:shrug:

EDIT:
Clarification.. as in made him turn over the $$$$...not sure how this would work, but this sounds very odd that he would be so caring, organizational, etc., and then just POOF.. disappear.