Ex-Postal Official Sentenced to 5 Years for Rs 37 Lakh Fraud
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Synopsis
In a significant ruling, a former Sub-Postmaster in Visakhapatnam has been sentenced to five years in prison for embezzling Rs 37 lakh from rural wage disbursement funds. The court's decision highlights the serious consequences of financial misconduct within public service.
Key Takeaways
- Former Sub-Postmaster convicted of fraud.
- Embezzled Rs 37 lakh from MGNREGS funds.
- Sentenced to five years imprisonment.
- Significant loss to governmental authorities.
- Fraudulent activities uncovered by CBI investigation.
Visakhapatnam, March 30 (NationPress) A former Sub-Postmaster from Andhra Pradesh, who embezzled Rs 37 lakh from an account designated for disbursing wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), has been sentenced to five years in prison along with a fine equivalent to the amount misappropriated.
Botsa Peda Rama Rao received his sentence from the Principal Special Judge for CBI Cases in Visakhapatnam.
Between July 11, 2010, and October 12, 2015, while serving as Sub-Postmaster at the Sub-Post Offices in Donkinavalasa and Uttaravilli of the Parvathipuram Division, he dishonestly manipulated and falsified the daily accounts related to wage distribution for the rural job scheme.
The CBI initiated the case on May 23, 2016, following allegations that Rao forged accounts and falsely claimed Rs 41.10 lakh for wage disbursements to beneficiaries under MGNREGS, against an actual disbursement of only Rs 4.10 lakh.
Rao committed the fraud on 16 different occasions during the years 2013, 2014, and 2015 at various Branch Post Offices, including Palteru, Golladi, Mallampeta, Badangi, Akulakatta, Kunayavalasa, Nandigam, and Rejeru.
The CBI reported that the accused misappropriated Rs 37 lakh allocated under MGNREGS, resulting in a wrongful loss to both the Postal Department and the governments of Andhra Pradesh and India, while unjustly enriching himself.
Following the investigation, the CBI filed three chargesheets on November 1, 2016, and January 18, 2017, against the accused.
After due trial, the Court found Rao guilty and imposed the sentence as described.
Earlier this week, five officials from the Income Tax Department in Hyderabad and their associate were apprehended by the CBI for extorting money from taxpayers who had claimed unusually high tax refunds, using intimidation tactics to threaten hefty penalties.
An official noted that the fraud, amounting to nearly Rs 10 lakh, came to light when one taxpayer reported the issue to the CBI, prompting the registration of an FIR against the tax officials: Quamar Aulam Khan, Manish Sikrawal, Gulnaz Rawoof, Kuthadi Srinivas Rao, and Mohd. Javeed.
