SHIMLA/DHARAMSHALA: In a shocking case of alleged fraud involving government pension funds, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against a Branch Postmaster in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district for allegedly siphoning off more than ₹9 lakh from the accounts of deceased pensioners.
According to the CBI's Anti-Corruption Branch in Shimla, Hoshiar Singh, who has been serving as the Branch Postmaster at Mand Manjwan Branch Post Office under the Dharamshala Postal Division since 2012, is accused of fraudulently withdrawing pension money belonging to 19 deceased beneficiaries.
The investigation revealed that between June 6, 2024 and September 13, 2025, the accused allegedly forged withdrawal forms and used fake thumb impressions to illegally access pension accounts of dead beneficiaries.
Through the fraudulent transactions, he is alleged to have embezzled government funds amounting to ₹9.02 lakh for personal gain.
The case came to light during scrutiny of pension disbursement records, raising serious concerns over monitoring mechanisms in rural banking and government welfare delivery systems.
The CBI has registered an FIR under relevant sections pertaining to cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust and corruption. Further investigation is underway to ascertain whether other officials were involved and to determine the full extent of the fraud.
The case has sent shockwaves through the region, highlighting how pension payment systems can be manipulated and underscore the need for stricter verification of beneficiary records.
CBI needs to now examining whether similar irregularities occurred in other postal branches as dead pensioners are a rich source for corruption in many departments, banks and post offices
