Sub-postmaster under CBI lens for siphoning off lakhs
He got at least 26 of these 61 accounts closed on different dates using forged documents.
New Delhi: A sub-postmaster, someone who handles hard-earned money of mostly the poor, is under the CBI radar for allegedly siphoning off lakhs of rupees and causing loss to the exchequer. The CBI has registered a case in what appears to be first-of-its-kind modus operandi against the sub-postmaster (Govindpuri (Modinagar), Ghaziabad) and a postal agent of Head Post Office, Ghaziabad, along with some other individuals.
The CBI sources said that the then-sub-postmaster, Rajeev Shankar, allegedly siphoned off several lakhs in just two days in January 2015 during system transfer from manual to computerised in his post office
“Using forged documents, around 61 closed accounts were allegedly reopened at Ghaziabad post office on different dates. This was done by making fake deposit entries by data entry technically only in the system under the supervision of the accused public servants. Some of these accounts had lakhs of rupees. Then, in connivance with other officials and some private persons, the accused withdrew all the money from these accounts,” sources said.
Probably, in a bid to evade detection, he got at least 26 of these 61 accounts closed on different dates using forged documents, when the system was completely computerised, they added. The accused again withdrew these amounts with the connivance of the officials and private persons, thus causing loss to the exchequer, sources said.
The CBI has registered a case against Rajeev Shankar, Mohan Singh (the then-postal agent, Head Post Office, Ghazaibad), Deepak Garg (private person) and other unidentified persons under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IT Act-2000.
Sources said, “Investigation by the agency has revealed that already 61 closed accounts which were reopened on the basis of forged documents include: 376747, 376817, 376843, 376888, 377245, 377257, 377274, 377275, 377296, 733720, 733842, 736900 and 738244”.
“The agency sleuths will soon seek certain technical evidence from the private organisation which transferred the system from manual to computerised in the post office. Investigators will also seek clarifications from the junior employees of the post office, if required”, sources said. The CBI will also take assistance of the private technical experts in carrying out a detailed investigation, they added.
Accounts which were again closed included 376747, 376843, 377245, 377257, 377274 and 377275, they added.