Postal workers federation seeks CBI probe into fraud cheque scam

The Bharatiya Postal Employees Federation (BPEF) on Saturday accused the Kolkata General Post Office (GPO) administration of covering up a fake cheques scam amounting in excess of Rs.1 crore, and demanded a CBI probe into it.

While the scam involving the encashment of at least 18 fake cheques amounting to Rs.1.04 crore was detected in March 2011, the BPEF alleged that the GPO intentionally did not initiate any criminal action against the guilty officials and was trying to hush up the matter by conducting only a departmental probe.

"In the name of departmental enquiry, the department is trying to protect the guilty officers. It has been more than four years, but no case has been filed. We have reasons to believe that a large group of top officials are involved and efforts are being made to shield them," BPEF founder secretary Vidyadhar Pathak said.

While two GPO officials were sacked earlier in the year following a police complaint by the State Bank of India which had detected the fraud, Pathak said the GPO never bothered to investigate their involvement in the scam nor any efforts were made to recover the embezzled amount.

The employees' federation also said the GPO authorities were deducting Rs.25,000 monthly from 16 Group C employees towards recovery of the defrauded amount.

The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh-affiliated BPEF said they will meet union Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to make a formal request for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the matter.

"When the need is to punish those who are involved, the department is illegally punishing lower level employees.

"A dossier on the entire fraud case been prepared and I will be personally hand it over to the minister and seek a CBI probe. I am confident our request will be honoured," added Pathak.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the 7th Pay Commission's report, the BPEF said it was planning for a nationwide stir to press for its demand for increase in basic pay and other allowances.