Bengaluru, July 8 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two employees of the Postal Department in connection with the alleged misappropriation of approximately Rs 1.3 crore from the Post Office Savings Accounts of 44 account holders at Saragur Post Office in Mysuru district in Karnataka, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The arrested accused are a Postal Assistant and a Postman, both posted at the Saragur Post Office. They were arrested following an investigation into allegations of criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

According to the CBI, a case was registered in March 2026 based on a written complaint received from the Postal Department regarding the alleged fraud.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the two accused allegedly siphoned off funds from the savings accounts of customers over a period spanning 2022 to 2025. The stolen money was allegedly transferred into the bank accounts of their relatives as well as their own accounts.

Investigators found that the accused had allegedly misused customers’ login credentials, including user IDs and passwords, to fraudulently access accounts and transfer funds without the knowledge or consent of the account holders.

The CBI said the fraud currently involves 44 savings account holders, with the total amount misappropriated estimated at around Rs 1.3 crore. However, officials suspect that similar irregularities may have occurred in other accounts as well, and those transactions are also under investigation.

Following their arrest, the accused were produced before the Special CBI Court in Bengaluru. The agency has sought their police custody for detailed interrogation to uncover the full extent of the fraud and identify any other persons who may have been involved.

The CBI said the investigation is continuing and that efforts are underway to trace the entire trail of the misappropriated funds. The agency added that it is committed to uncovering the complete conspiracy and bringing all those responsible to justice at the earliest.

–IANS

mka/uk