DHANBAD: The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a Regular Case (RC) against a senior postal official in Dhanbad for allegedly amassing assets significantly beyond his known sources of income. The accused, Shri Prabhat Ranjan, currently serves as a Postal Assistant (Lower Selection Grade) at the Centralised Delivery Office (CDO) under the Dhanbad Head Post Office.
The Investigation and “Check Period”
The FIR was registered on January 3, 2026, following “reliable source information” alleging that Ranjan illicitly enriched himself during his various postings in Dhanbad. To calculate the extent of the disproportionate assets (DA), investigators analyzed his financial records over a ten-year “Check Period” from January 1, 2015, to February 13, 2025.
According to the CBI’s findings:
- Total Income: During the period, Ranjan’s total income from salary, house rent, and his son’s earnings amounted to ₹75,47,353.
- Total Expenditure: His expenses for family maintenance and children’s education totaled ₹71,16,947.
- Likely Savings: Based on these figures, his expected savings should have been ₹4,30,406.
- Actual Assets: Investigators found that he acquired movable and immovable assets worth ₹95,67,236 during this timeframe.
The disparity resulted in a total of ₹91,36,830.07 in disproportionate assets, which is 121.06% over his known legal income.
Career Profile of the Accused
The accused, Prabhat Ranjan, has a long history with the Postal Department:
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- 1987: Joined as a Postman at Dhanbad Head Post Office.
- 1996: Promoted to Postal Assistant (PA).
- 2017: Promoted to Lower Selection Grade (LSG) Postal Assistant.
- Postings: He has served in various branches, including the BCCL Township Sub-Office (SO) and the Dhanbad Bazar SO.
Family and Assets
The CBI alleges that the illicit wealth was amassed in Ranjan’s name and in the names of his family members. The assets are held in the form of plots of land, bank balances, Post Office accounts, and vehicles in and around Dhanbad.
Ranjan resides in a government quarter at Jagjiwan Nagar, Dhanbad, but maintains a permanent residence in the Barwadda area of the district. His elder son is employed at a local company in Sindri, while his younger son is pursuing engineering in Dehradun.
Legal Action
The case has been registered under Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), which pertains to criminal misconduct by a public servant.
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Bhanwar Lal Meena, Superintendent of Police and Head of Branch (HoB), CBI ACB Dhanbad, authorized the investigation and appointed Inspector Raghunath Kumar as the Investigating Officer (IO). The CBI has also been authorized to seize certified copies of bank records and other financial documents related to the accused and his family members.