Patna: The Enforcement Directorate’s investigation into the Rs 5.42 crore savings bank scam at the Patna General Post Office has uncovered a new line of inquiry: how accounts belonging to the prime accused, Munna Kumar, and his family members were allegedly unfrozen after being placed under restrictions, paving the way for further withdrawals.
The ED informed the Bihar Circle of the Department of Posts about the matter through a letter. Following the communication, the Circle office wrote to the Patna GPO, leading to the suspension of three Assistant Postmasters (APMs) — Manoj Kumar, Jitendra Paswan and Rajiv Kumar — on Thursday.
The development has raised questions over the circumstances in which the frozen accounts were reopened and whether the required authorisations were obtained.
Questions over unfreezing of accounts
The scam dates back to 2019 and involved the alleged embezzlement of funds from dormant savings bank accounts at the Patna GPO.
During the investigation, accounts held in the names of Munna Kumar and his family members had been frozen. The latest ED inquiry is examining how employees in the Savings Bank Head Office (SBHO) allegedly unblocked the accounts without instructions from the Deputy Chief Postmaster (CPM).
Questions have also been raised over how the GPO administration authorised the unfreezing without approval from the Postal Circle office.
Court acquittal adds another layer
The investigation has also brought renewed attention to the case of MGS Jagat Prasad, a GPO employee who was recently acquitted by a court in connection with the scam.
The court directed the Deputy CPM to pay approximately ₹31 lakh to Prasad. Although a letter concerning the payment was issued, the account designated to receive the money was subsequently frozen following an ED order.
ED summons seven people
The money-laundering investigation has now intensified, with the ED summoning seven people for questioning.
Those called include postal assistants Munna Kumar, Sujay Tiwari, Rajesh Sharma, Sunil Kumar and Aditya Kumar; Rajdev Prasad, who was the CPM at the time and is currently serving as in-charge; Arun Kumar Jha, who was then Deputy CPM; and two employees of the Savings Bank Control Organisation (SBCO).
An ED team has also visited the Patna GPO to examine relevant records and documents.
Scam grew from ₹50 lakh estimate to ₹5.42 crore
The alleged irregularities were initially estimated at around ₹50 lakh. A subsequent departmental inquiry, however, put the total amount involved at ₹5.42 crore.
The alleged embezzlement involved 327 dormant accounts, including Fixed Deposit and Monthly Income Scheme accounts that had remained inactive for years.
Investigators allege that money was withdrawn through online channels after the accounts were manually closed without corresponding updates being made in the online system.
Munna Kumar, identified as the prime accused, was suspended. He later deposited ₹40 lakh into the departmental account, while Sujay Tiwari deposited ₹45 lakh. Aditya Kumar Singh was dismissed before his retirement.
Case began with 2019 complaint
The scam came to light after Rekha Kumari, a resident of Ashok Nagar, filed a complaint.
A departmental inquiry was launched in July 2019. On 8 August that year, the then CPM Rajdev Prasad wrote to the Central Bureau of Investigation seeking an investigation.
The CBI subsequently registered an FIR on 11 October 2019.
The ED’s latest investigation is now examining whether the alleged fraud generated illicit assets or involved money laundering, potentially opening a new chapter in the seven-year-old case.
