Ahmedabad: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today arrested a Director of, Postal Services and Senior Superintendent of Posts in Ahmedabad in connection with an on-going investigation of a case pertaining to the illegal exchange of scrapped Rs 500 and 1000 notes during demonetization.

The officials of Indian postal services, Director Manoj Kumar, posted at the GPO in Khanpur area and Senior Superintendent Sanjay Akhade, who was nabbed from his office in Ashram road were produced in the special CBI court in Mirzapur here which allowed their remand till March 23 for further investigation. The office of Kumar was also sealed by the CBI.

Earlier some other postal officials were nabbed in the case pertaining to the exchange of large amount of scrapped notes following inquiry by internal vigilance officer. The CBI was roped in later.

A CBI official said that the agency had registered a case on 07.03.2017 U/s 120 B read with 409 & 420 of IPC and Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(c)&(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against three postal officials and unknown others on a complaint from Postal Department related to acts of omission or commission by postal staff of Post Office, Navrangpura HO, Ahmedabad, during demonetization period. It was alleged that after demonetization was announced on 8.11.2016 and 09.11.2016 was a non- financial day. During inspection of Navrangpura HO Post Office, it was revealed that an amount of Rs.6,59,800/- (approx) was found unauthorizedly exchanged on 09.11.2016 as the currency notes of 100, 50, 20 and 10 denomination decreased to the tune of above amount as compared to the closing figures of 8.11.2016. It was further alleged that there was contradiction in reporting of exchange/ Withdrawn Old Series (WOS), in the records of Navrangpura HO, SSPO’s City Division and record of entry made in the excel sheet of the actual forms available in the branch.

Searches were conducted at 9 premises in & around Ahmedabad which led to recovery of incriminating documents. A cash of Rs. One lakh(approx) from residence and Rs.1.66 lakh(approx) from Office in new currency was recovered from the premises of the nabbed Director, Postal Services

Further investigation is on, the official added.

Official note:

The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Director, Postal Services and Senior Superintendent of Posts, Ahmedabad (Gujarat) in an on-going investigation of a case.

CBI has registered a case on 07.03.2017 U/s 120 B r/w 409 & 420 of IPC and Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(c)&(d) of the PC Act, 1988 against three postal officials and unknown others on a complaint from Postal Department related to acts of omission or commission by postal staff of Post Office, Navrangpura HO, Ahmedabad, during demonetization period. It was alleged that demonetization was announced on 8.11.2016 and 09.11.2016 was a non- financial day. During inspection of Navrangpura HO Post Office, it was revealed that an amount of Rs.6,59,800/- (approx) was found unauthorizedly exchanged on 09.11.2016 as the currency notes of 100, 50, 20 and 10 denomination decreased to the tune of above amount as compared to the closing figures of 8.11.2016. It was further alleged that there was contradiction in reporting of exchange/ Withdrawn Old Series (WOS), in the records of Navrangpura HO, SSPO’s City Division and record of entry made in the excel sheet of the actual forms available in the branch.

Searches were conducted at 9 premises in & around Ahmedabad which led to recovery of incriminating documents. A cash of Rs. One lakh(approx) from residence and Rs.1.66 lakh(approx) from Office in new currency was recovered from the premises of Director, Postal Services

Both the arrested accused are being produced today before the Special Judge, CBI Court, Mirzapur, Ahmedabad. Further investigation is continuing.

DeshGujarat