In a disturbing revelation, a major fraud has come to light within the postal system of Nagpur district, where post office officials allegedly siphoned off depositors’ funds, adversely affecting farmers and ordinary savers. Two separate FIRs have been filed, naming postmasters accused of misappropriating funds under the guise of trusted savings schemes.
Fraud Under the Guise of Savings Schemes
One postmaster is accused of misleading more than 80 villagers into investing money in fixed-deposit schemes, promising higher interest returns. After the villagers deposited their money, no valid passbooks were issued and standard account records were manipulated to conceal the fraud. In another case, a woman postmaster allegedly diverted recurring deposit and Sukanya Samriddhi account funds for personal use — one account holder discovered the balance was just ₹1,200 instead of the ₹4,600 she had deposited.
Scope of the Scam and Investigation
Investigations so far attribute crores of rupees in losses to these internal frauds. One audit traced an amount of approximately ₹9.65 lakh across 24 account-holders in just one branch. Police and postal-department audits are now probing the transactions, and officials warn the total scam figure may increase as more victims come forward. Legal action is underway for crimes including cheating, forgery and criminal breach of trust.
Systemic Gaps Exposed
This scandal exposes serious vulnerabilities in the postal department’s oversight mechanisms — especially in rural branches where depositors often place complete trust in local postmasters. The alleged misuse of official accounts and documents has raised questions about internal audits, supervisory checks, and the adequacy of regulatory safeguards. Officials have assured swift reimbursement for affected depositors and stricter legal proceedings against those responsible.
