A postmaster in Sundargarh district is allegedly absconding after duping depositors of around Rs 50 lakh.
Kuntilata Ganju, postmaster of Kumajharia post office under Biramitrapur Police limits in the district, allegedly siphoned off around Rs 50 lakh from the accounts of many people who had deposited their money in several postal schemes.
The matter came to the fore when a woman depositor came to the Kumajharia branch post office to withdraw money from her account. However, she couldn’t withdraw money and didn’t get any satisfactory answer from the postmaster. Subsequently, she went to the Kuanramunda branch post office to enquire about her account. However, to her utter dismay, she found that no money had been deposited in her account.
Following the development, some other depositors also found that money was not deposited in their accounts at the Kumajharia branch post office.
Subsequently, the victims lodged a complaint in this regard at Biramitrapur Police Station. Ganju is reportedly on the run since May 8 following the incident.
“I had deposited Rs 1 lakh. However, nothing has been deposited in my account. The postmaster ran away after embezzling my money. I want my money back immediately,” said a depositor.
“I belong to a poor family. I had deposited some money for the future of my children by working hard. However, I have been duped. I want justice. Stern actions should be taken against the erring officials and our money should be returned immediately,” said another depositor.
The depositors also detained a Postal Department official for hours in protest demanding immediate return of their amounts. Biramitrapur police reached the spot immediately and pacified the protestors.
In response to the development, Rourkela Postal Division Assistant Superintendent said that the deposited money has been siphoned off by the postmaster over the last five years.
“We came to know about the incident just a month back. A departmental inquiry into the incident has been launched. Stern action will be taken against the erring officials and the money of the depositors will be returned,” he said.