JEYPORE: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday alleged large-scale embezzlement of government funds in sub-post offices functioning under the Jeypore postal division in undivided Koraput region and demanded a court-monitored CBI probe into the ‘scam’.
Addressing mediapersons in Jeypore, senior BJD leader Rabi Narayan Nanda and former MP Pradeep Majhi alleged that funds meant for beneficiaries under MGNREGS and other Central welfare schemes were fraudulently diverted from postal accounts by a nexus involving some postal employees and middlemen.
They claimed though the alleged misappropriation detected so far is estimated at around Rs 10 crore, the overall fraud could exceed Rs 50 crore across various sub-post offices in Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts between 2022 and 2026.
According to the BJD leaders, beneficiaries from tribal and economically-weaker sections, particularly those unable to sign and dependent on thumb impressions, were allegedly targeted. They claimed nearly 5,000 beneficiaries out of around 25,000 account holders receiving payments under the government scheme may have been affected.
They alleged that funds transferred through direct benefit transfer (DBT) mode into beneficiaries’ postal savings accounts were illegally diverted to other accounts using forged records, manipulated passbooks and altered KYC details. They further alleged that a well-organised racket was operating behind the fraud.
Presenting alleged transaction details from sub-post offices in Jharigaon, Dabugaon and Kodinga areas of Nabarangpur, the BJD leaders claimed preliminary scrutiny revealed illegal transfer and withdrawal of beneficiaries’ funds.
The BJD leaders claimed complaints regarding the alleged irregularities had earlier been submitted to the senior superintendent of post offices, Jeypore division and the office of the chief postmaster general in Bhubaneswar. However, no concrete has been initiated so far.
The BJD demanded immediate restoration of money to affected beneficiaries and a comprehensive investigation into all postal accounts linked to government welfare schemes in the undivided Koraput region. It also sought criminal proceedings against those involved in the alleged scam.
Warning of a statewide agitation if no action was taken, the BJD leaders said the party would stage demonstrations before post offices and offices of senior postal authorities in Bhubaneswar and New Delhi in the coming days.
