2011 Bandipora post office scam CBI Court sentences former sub-postmaster, savings agent to 3 years in jail

Srinagar, Jun 1: A court here has sentenced two persons to simple imprisonment of three years each after they were convicted in a case related to 2011 Bandipora Post Office scam.   Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption (CBI Cases), Kashmir, Adnan Sayeed, sentenced Ghulam Qadir Lone, a former sub-postmaster and Muhammad Shafi Lone, a government-authorised savings agent after the duo was found guilty of large-scale embezzlement of public funds. The Court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each convict for every offence they committed.  Both the former sub-postmaster and the savings agent were convicted under multiple sections of the Ranbir Penal Code including 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant), 420 (cheating), 467, 468, and 471 (forgery and use of forged documents), and 477-A (falsification of accounts). They were also held guilty under Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006.

The Court sentenced the former sub-postmaster to undergo simple imprisonment for a term of three years and fine Rs 10,000 for each offence under sections 120-B, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 477-A of RPC in addition to a simple imprisonment for a term  of three years  under section  5(2) of J&K  Prevention of Corruption Act.

The savings agent was sentenced to undergo a simple imprisonment for a term of three years and fine Rs10,000 for each offence under sections of 120-B, 409, 420 , 467, 468, 471 and 477-A of RPC.

“All sentences will run concurrently. In the event of default in payment of fines, the convicts will serve an additional one-month imprisonment per offence, to be undergone consecutively,” the court said.

According to the prosecution, the case dates back to the late 2000s when depositors of the Bandipora Sub Post Office noticed irregularities in their savings account passbooks. A departmental probe revealed widespread manipulation of records, forged documents, and unauthorized withdrawals. This prompted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to step in. The case was formally registered in 2011 by the central agency.  Following the investigation, the CBI uncovered a deep-rooted conspiracy orchestrated by the two accused to siphon off funds by fabricating entries and creating fake documents. The trial, which spanned nearly 14 years culminated in the judgment delivered on May 31, 2025.

The court observed that the offences involved a serious breach of public trust. However, the prolonged trial and the mitigating circumstances of the accused were considered before awarding the sentence, said.  The convicts have been directed to be lodged in Central Jail Srinagar, and the time spent in prior custody will be deducted against their total sentence. The court also informed the convicts of their right to appeal the verdict and their eligibility to seek free legal aid from the High Court Legal Services Committee, Srinagar.