On the run for 23 years, ex-post master nabbed by CBI in Odisha

The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested a former post master who was on the run for the last 23 years after misappropriating depositors money.

BHUBANESHWAR: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested a former post master who was on the run for the last 23 years after misappropriating depositors money.

Duryodhan Mohanty, who headed the Damodarpur branch under Khaira Police Station in Balasore, was convicted by the Orissa High Court in 1993 for the financial bungling but was at large ever since.

Mohanty had taken up law practice to evade the CBI net. The premier probe agency, however, did not give up and kept a tab on him from time to time which bore fruit late on Thursday night and the ex-post master was arrested.

According to available records, Mohanty had duped hundreds of depositors in late 1980s by making away with extra cash during withdrawal. Whenever a depositor, mostly people from nearby villages, would submit withdrawal forms, he would add an extra zero to the sum. After paying the depositor the sum he/she sought to withdrew, the post master would pocket the rest. The matter came to fore when several depositors found their deposits depleted and the CBI took up the case in 1990 by registering a case.

Mohanty was convicted by a CBI court in 1992 but chose to challenge the order in Orissa High Court within the stipulated one month period. He applied and secured bail during the trial. In 1993, the HC upheld the lower court order and Mohanty was found guilty. Instead of giving himself up, he absconded.

The investigating agency got a non-bailable warrant issued against him but Mohanty had changed his location and even taken up law practice to confuse the cops. However, the agency continued attempts to locate him and finally, Mohanty ran out of luck on Thursday night in Balasore.

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