Null pointer while using BLOB

[Sekhar Kapoor]

I am trying to extract a file name and its data from the database. The file data is stored as HUGEBLOB in the table. The file contains data which I found by downloading it directly from table using TOAD. However when I try to fetch the data throughh Java code :
Blob file = rs.getBlob("file_data");
I am getting null pointer in the next line which is:
InputStream inputStream = ((oracle.sql.BLOB)file).getBinaryStream();

Can anyone suggest why it is giving null exception and what is the solution to it.