Varanasi postal scam is nothing short of a disgrace.

INDRA YADAV – Freelance Writer, Bhadohi (UP)

The Varanasi postal scam is nothing short of a disgrace. Corruption remains deeply entrenched, and hundreds of families await justice. In the sacred city of the Ganges, a confluence of faith and culture, the failures of the government machinery are once again looming large.

The 2018 postal scam at the Cantonment Head Post Office shattered the trust of hundreds of ordinary citizens. This embezzlement of approximately ₹10 crore continues to appeal to justice, but six years later, no concrete action is in sight.

This is not only a financial crime but also a symbol of the deep rot in the system, which hurts poor and middle-class families the most.

The story dates back to 2013, when some employees of the postal department made away with customers’ savings accounts, Monthly Income Scheme (MIS), Public Provident Fund (PPF) and other schemes.

Forged documents, stolen passwords, and collusion with collection agents emptied over 500 accounts. An elderly man lost money saved for his daughter’s wedding, while a widow lost her support in her old age.

When the scandal broke in August 2019, preliminary investigations revealed a loss of ₹5 crore, which later exceeded ₹10 crore.

This scam, which occurred in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency, caused a stir.

The PMO sought an immediate report, and the postal department suspended four employees—Ramashankar Lal, Rajesh Kumar, Sunil Yadav, and Vinay Yadav.

Assistant Postmaster Bechan Ram was arrested in October 2019, but the remaining six accused remain at large. The investigation, handed over to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), appears to be in abeyance.

The same old story in 2025 By 2025, this case had become a dark chapter.

Recent searches reveal no new arrests or court verdicts. Yes, some affected customers have approached consumer forums—in one case, the district commission ordered the post office to refund ₹3 lakh, plus interest.

But large-scale recovery? That seems like a pipe dream. The postal department claims to have strengthened the Core Banking Solution (CBS), but the root of corruption lies in the weaknesses of the system itself.

Negligence in password security, auditing, and employee training, along with corrupt employees, have led to such scams. Post offices across the country are trusted by the public—everything from the savings of the poor to subsidies for farmers depends on them.

But when these institutions become centers of plunder, the very foundations of democracy are shaken. The time has come for change; this scam isn’t just about Varanasi, it’s about the entire country.

The High Court ordered a CID investigation into the Jamalpur post office in West Bengal in 2025, and fraudulent FDs worth crores were uncovered in Guwa, Jharkhand. These examples demonstrate that corruption is not centralized, but diffused.

The government must take strict measures, make digital tracking mandatory, appoint independent auditors and launch a nationwide search for absconding accused. The path to justice for victims is RTI and consumer courts.

But real change will come when we citizens don’t remain silent. Speak up on social media, question local legislators. Remember, corruption thrives only when our silence harbors it.

Let’s start with a holy city like Varanasi—to realize the dream of a strong, transparent system.
Are you ready for this fight? Because in the fight for justice, every voice matters.

Indra Yadav – Freelance Writer, Bhadohi (UP)
indrayadavrti@gmail.com