Gujarat: Postal employees steal Rs 2.8 crore deposits by diverting it through their own savings accounts

Ahmedabad: Money deposited by small savers under Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) accounts in Bharuch division allegedly never reached the intended accounts. Instead, Rs 2.81 crore was allegedly rerouted through employees' internal postal savings accounts, leading to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case against 12 postal officials and associates.The alleged diversion took place between Aug 2024 and Dec 2025 at the ONGC Colony sub-post office in Bharuch, stated the FIR registered by CBI Gandhinagar. Those named in the FIR include sub-postmasters, postal assistants, postmen and multi-tasking staff. The main accused, Yasin Ghanchi, who was serving as sub-postmaster at the time, allegedly received deposits from customers through authorised agents and diverted the funds using internal postal accounts.According to the complaint filed by the superintendent of post offices, Bharuch division, 56 POSB accounts, largely under the time deposit scheme, were affected. The FIR stated, "The amounts deposited by investors were not credited into their designated govt accounts. Instead, the deposits were made into POSB accounts of departmental officials in the case, and thereafter transferred through digital modes to accounts linked with the accused."CBI officers said entries were made in the Finacle core banking system to show the money was deposited in the investors' accounts, while the actual funds were routed elsewhere within the postal banking network.Investigators alleged that in certain instances, passbooks were issued to depositors even though corresponding balances were not secured in the intended accounts. The FIR further stated: "The accused public servant, by misuse of his official position and system access, manipulated transactions and utilised other postal savings accounts to divert govt money."According to the agency, deposits collected through agents were sometimes accepted without issuing prescribed receipts. Cheques received from customers were allegedly encashed, and the proceeds were diverted. The diverted sums were first credited to POSB accounts of colleagues and then transferred through UPI platforms, including Google Pay, to accounts linked to the main accused.The use of postal savings accounts belonging to employees formed a key part of the alleged modus operandi. Investigators claimed that funds moved only within the postal banking system before being digitally transferred onwards, creating layers within departmental accounts. One joint POSB account cited in the FIR allegedly received over Rs 15 lakh before further transfers were made.The irregularities surfaced after an internal alert in December 2025 flagged certain transactions. A preliminary verification reportedly found mismatches between passbook entries and balances reflected in core banking data. The FIR also notes that supervisor credentials were used to authorise some of the transactions under scrutiny.The case was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act. Prior approval under Section 17A of the Act was obtained before proceeding against serving officials.CBI officials said the investigation will examine transaction trails within POSB accounts, digital transfer records and the role of each accused in allowing their accounts to be used for routing funds. Further scrutiny is underway to determine whether additional accounts within the postal system were involved and to quantify the total diversion, if any, beyond the amount cited in the FIR.