Odisha: Postmaster absconds after duping Rs 50 lakh, depositors demonstrate in Jajpur

Jajpur, Nov 12: Around 50 depositors gheraoed the office of the assistant superintendent of the post in Jajpur town on Monday alleging that the postmaster of Kuanalo branch post office within Binjharpur police limits is absconding after allegedly misappropriating around Rs 50 lakh from their accounts.

The forgery came to light when a woman depositor, Sabitarani Das arrived at Kuanalo branch post office to withdraw money from her account for her daughter’s marriage last month. Das had had Rs 1.4 lakh in her account. However, she could not withdraw the sum due to insufficient funds and the postmaster failed to give a satisfactory reply. After Das confronted him, Boitai has been absconded since October 23.

Later, it was further found that the accused postmaster, Kodanadhara Boitai has siphoned off around Rs 50 lakh from the accounts of more than 50 depositors.

Das found that a total of Rs 1.4 lakh was withdrawn from her account in seven installments by Boitai by forging her signature, who had collected her pass books and of several other depositors in September for entering records of quarterly interest.

The deposited money was siphoned off by Boitai over the last couple of months. A departmental inquiry into the incident has been launched after we came to know about the matter last month. Stern action will be taken against the erring official as per law, said Jajpur Postal Division assistant superintendent Harisankar Subudhi.