Did the ED File a Prosecution Complaint Against Former Sub Post Master for Misusing His Official Role?
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Bhopal, Feb 4 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken significant action by filing a Prosecution Complaint (PC) against Ashok Kumar Soni, a former Sub Post Master, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for misusing his official capacity.
The ED's announcement on Wednesday revealed that the Prosecution Complaint was submitted to the Special Court (PMLA) in Bhopal, which has since issued a notice for a pre-cognisance hearing concerning Soni.
According to the statement from the ED, “The Bhopal Zonal Office has lodged a Prosecution Complaint against Ashok Kumar Soni, who was the Sub Postmaster at the Jirapur Sub Post Office in District Rajgarh (MP), under PMLA, 2002. This complaint pertains to the misuse of his official position during the timeframe of December 2016 to May 2017.”
The investigation initiated by the agency followed a criminal case filed against Soni under several sections of the IPC, 1860, and the PC Act, 1988, by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Bhopal.
The CBI had submitted a chargesheet in this matter to the Special Judge for CBI Cases in Bhopal on December 15, 2020.
According to the findings from the ED investigation, while serving as Sub Postmaster at the Jirapur Sub Post Office, Soni exploited his official position by creating backdated and fraudulent deposit entries in 138 Postal Savings Bank accounts using the Sanchay Post software. This act inflated the account balances artificially, lacking any real cash deposits.
After generating the false account balances and transitioning the accounts from Sanchay Post to the Finacle system, he illicitly withdrew a total of Rs.1,23,31,180 from these accounts,” stated the ED.
“Consequently, he generated and acquired Proceeds of Crime amounting to Rs. 1,23,31,180. Although, it is noteworthy that Ashok Kumar Soni later repaid Rs. 1,24,44,800 in cash during November and December 2017,” it further elaborated.