Mohali, Sep 21 (IANS) A Special Court (PMLA) in Punjab sentenced the then Sub-Post Master from Jalandhar to rigorous imprisonment for 18 months in connection with money laundering involving Rs 16.56 crore belonging to small depositors, an ED official said on Monday.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Jalandhar Zonal Office, secured the conviction of Sanjeev Kumar, the then Sub-Post Master, Dakhni Gate, Nakodar, Jalandhar, in the case involving misappropriation of public funds by opening 54 fake post office savings accounts.

The Special Court (PMLA), SAS Nagar (Mohali), sentenced Sanjeev Kumar on September 14 after finding him guilty of money laundering under Section 3, punishable under Section 4, of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002, the ED said.

The then Sub-Post Master was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for one year and six months and fined Rs 50,000. In default of payment of the fine, he shall undergo further rigorous imprisonment for three months.

The PMLA investigation was initiated based on CBI FIR No. RCCHG2018A004 dated February 1, 2018, registered against Sanjeev Kumar and other accused persons in relation to allegations of fraud, misappropriation and abuse of official position of Sub-Post Master, Dakhni Gate, Nakodar, district Jalandhar, said the ED.

The ED investigation revealed that Sanjeev Kumar allegedly opened 54 fake savings accounts and caused a loss to the government exchequer of Rs 3.40 crore, manipulated entries in 41 savings accounts and caused a loss of Rs 2.79 crore, manipulated 51 RD accounts and caused a loss of Rs 1.89 crore and manipulated other accounts such as PPF and Term deposits of customers and fraudulently withdrew government funds to the tune of Rs 8.48 crore, said an official statement.

The ED said the accused withdrew these funds in cash and through multiple bank accounts maintained by him and his associates.

Through the criminal activities, the accused generated huge Proceeds of Crime (POC) and utilised the same in maintaining a lavish lifestyle, splurging on gambling, personal expenditure and purchase of immovable properties, it said.

During the course of the investigation, the ED provisionally attached movable and immovable properties valued at Rs 42 lakh through Provisional Attachment Order No. 04 of 2025 dated March 2, 2025, and subsequently confirmed the action on August 20, 2025.

During the pendency of trial, the accused voluntarily sought disposal of the case through plea bargaining under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), the ED said.

The Special Court accepted the plea-bargain application and convicted Sanjeev Kumar for the offence under Section 3, punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA.

The Special Court also directed that the amount recovered from the accused shall be payable to the office of the Superintendent of Post Offices, Kapurthala Division, and held that the victim department would be entitled to move an application under Section 8(8) of the PMLA read with the Restoration of Property Rules, 2016, in respect of the attached property, if any, the ED said.

–IANS

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