Bhopal — The Central Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBI ACB), Bhopal, has registered a regular case against two officials of the Tarnod Branch Post Office under Suwasra Mandi in Mandsaur district for allegedly entering into a criminal conspiracy and temporarily misappropriating postal deposits amounting to ₹48,37,700 during the period 2024-2026.In FIR No. RC0082026A0002 dated 13 March 2026 (forwarded to court on 14 March 2026), the CBI has named the following accused:
- Shri Dhara Singh, Branch Post Master, Tarnod BO, Mandsaur
- Ms. Shailjal Chanda, Assistant Branch Post Master, Tarnod BO, Mandsaur
- Shri Preetam Singh, Private Person
The case was registered on the basis of a written complaint dated 9 March 2026 submitted by Shri Arun Kumar Singh Niranjan, Sub Divisional Inspector of Post, Garoth Sub Division, Garoth. The complaint was routed through the Superintendent of Post Offices, Mandsaur, and prima facie disclosed serious irregularities at the Tarnod Branch Post Office.
According to the FIR, Shri Dhara Singh and Ms. Shailjal Chanda, in collusion with private person Shri Preetam Singh, allegedly diverted government postal deposits into their personal Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) accounts by making fake entries and delaying remittance of cash to the higher accounting office at Suwasra Mandi.
The misappropriated funds were later converted for personal use.Key irregularities highlighted in the complaint include:
- On 28 January 2026, the closing balance at Tarnod BO showed an excess cash of ₹4,08,956, yet the officials failed to remit ₹3,80,000 to Suwasra Mandi on time. The branch was found closed during an inspection, and both officials were absent. Cash was eventually remitted in instalments on 29 and 30 January 2026.
- For the past two years, the officials allegedly credited government money into personal and related accounts without actual cash availability in the branch, using unauthorised “DOP Cash” entries (described as money laundering tactics).
- Shri Dhara Singh’s POSB account showed cash deposits of ₹47,16,000 and IPPB account ₹1,21,700. Large sweep-in/sweep-out transactions, UPI credits, and IMPS withdrawals running into crores were noticed.
- Ms. Shailjal Chanda and Shri Preetam Singh’s accounts also reflected suspicious credits and transfers linked to the branch.
- The branch consistently held cash far exceeding the authorised limit (minimum ₹15,000, maximum ₹30,000), with closing balances often running into ₹1-3 lakh for weeks without proper accounting or remittance.
Detailed annexures in the FIR list daily closing balances from December 2024 to February 2026 and transaction analysis of personal accounts, showing systematic diversion and delayed accounting of public money.
The CBI has invoked Sections 61(2) read with 344 and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (criminal conspiracy, falsification of accounts, criminal misappropriation) and Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) — criminal misconduct by public servants.
The case has been entrusted for investigation to Inspector Susil Kumar Maharana, CBI ACB, Bhopal, under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Shubhendra Katta, IRS.This is the latest in a series of CBI probes into irregularities in the Department of Posts in Madhya Pradesh, where small savings schemes and branch-level cash management have come under scrutiny following complaints from supervisory officers.
The accused have not been arrested so far. Further investigation is underway to trace the end-use of funds, examine bank statements, and ascertain the full extent of the conspiracy.
