The prime minister's office has sought expeditious action against the accused in the Bihar flood relief scam.

Official sources said that after the Union home ministry sought a detailed report from the state government, the PMO is now taking keen interest in the case.

Gautam Goswami, a 1992 batch Indian Administrative Service officer, who was named by Time magazine a 'Young Asian Hero' for his exemplary work in providing help to flood victims in Bihar last year, is now in the line of fire for allegedly diverting funds meant for relief to a private company.

Also see: Bihar governor not averse to CBI probe

Goswami, the then district magistrate of Patna and nodal officer for coordinating relief for 25 flood-hit districts, paid Rs 17.18 crore to the Bihar Small Scale Industries Corporation, the sole organisation in charge of supplying relief material.

Early this month, the BSSIC said it supplied material worth only Rs 22 lakh and has so far been paid Rs 13 lakh.

The rest of the money, documents show, went to an employee of BSSIC, a certain B K Singh.

Singh appears in records as the man raising bills and getting payments from Goswami, BSSIC says it has no employee by that name.

Government sources said pressure is mounting from the PMO to take action against the accused, including Goswami.

The state vigilance department is yet to submit its report.

Bihar Governor Buta Singh has said he is not averse to a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the scam.