Post master accused of siphoning off Rs 10 lakh suspended

PANCHKULA: After scam charges rocked the post office of Devi Nagar in Sector 3, here, the branch post master, Raj Bala, was placed under suspension on Monday.
Bala has allegedly withdrawn about Rs 10 lakh from more than 50 accounts in the post office.
The temporary charge of the post master has been given to a postman, Bahadur Singh.
Pankaj Jain, sub-divisional inspector (post), Panchkula, handed over the charge to Singh and suspended Bala from duty.
"A departmental inquiry is being held against Bala," said Jain.
A large number of people gathered outside the main post office in Sector 4. When Bala went to Devi Nagar post office, they went there and exchanged heated arguments with her.
DSP Mamta Sodha sent cops from Sector 21 police post to control the situation. Superintendent of post office, Ambala, J K Gulati too reached the spot and assured people of quick refunding of deposits in accounts.
"People need not worry, as we will soon deposit the money in their accounts," he said.
"We cannot afford to lose our savings. There were around Rs 23,000 in my account, but today there are only Rs 14,000 though there is no withdrawal entry in my passbook. It is a big scam and Bala should be arrested at the earliest," said Pardeep Kumar, a resident of Devi Nagar.
"Bala has kept our passbooks with her. She had asked us to take it later after she would make the transaction. Despite numerous requests, she has not returned our passbooks," said Ratni, 60, a resident of Devi Nagar.
Bala confessed in front of the media that she has withdrawn the money.
"I know that I have withdrawn from the accounts. I will refund the money soon. I have withdrawn money only from 10 accounts, but people are making exaggerated claims. I have been suspended from my charge, what else do they want?" Bala told media.