₹15.67 Lakh Vanishes from Late Allahabad High Court Official’s Postal Savings Account; Widow Alleges Insider Fraud

PRAYAGRAJ: A startling case of suspected financial fraud has surfaced at the Allahabad High Court Sub-Post Office after over ₹15.67 lakh disappeared from the savings account of late Ashok Kumar Verma, former Joint Registrar of the Allahabad High Court.

The matter came to light when Verma’s wife, Madhubala Srivastava, visited the branch to withdraw the funds, more than seven years after her husband’s passing.

Verma passed away on June 25, 2018, leaving behind a postal savings account at the High Court Sub-Post Office with a balance of ₹15,67,669.

As the account had no registered nominee, Madhubala underwent a long legal procedure to secure a succession certificate, which she finally obtained on September 26, 2025.

However, when she approached the post office on October 24, 2025, to claim the savings and update the passbook, she was shocked to discover a zero balance.

Records showed that the entire amount had already been withdrawn through multiple transactions spread across 2024 and 2025.

According to the account statement:

• On July 4, 2024, cash withdrawals of ₹4 lakh, ₹3 lakh, and another ₹3 lakh were made
• On July 8, 2024, a cheque withdrawal of ₹5.67 lakh was recorded
• On September 13, 2025, ₹15,500 was withdrawn in cash

Madhubala firmly alleges that the withdrawals could not have occurred without internal collusion, emphasizing that her husband had passed away long before any of the transactions took place.

She has submitted formal complaints to postal authorities and lodged a report at the Cantt police station, demanding that a case of embezzlement and fraud be registered against those responsible.

Serious Concerns Over Account Left Unattended

The incident highlights the significant risks associated with leaving financial accounts unattended for extended periods, especially without a registered nominee.

With no activity or monitoring for years, the account may have been vulnerable to misuse by someone with knowledge of the deceased official’s status and the dormant account details.

The nature and timing of the withdrawals raise strong suspicions that an insider or someone familiar with postal operations could have exploited the situation.

Investigators are reportedly looking into employee involvement, transaction authorisation records, and CCTV footage from the branch.

Investigation Initiated

The High Court Sub-Post Office in charge, Manoj Kumar, confirmed that the matter has been escalated to senior authorities.

An internal inquiry has begun, and staff members who were present at the time of the withdrawals are being questioned.

The investigation is expected to delve into how identity checks and withdrawal protocols were bypassed, and who authorised or processed the dubious transactions.

The case underscores the importance of timely nomination updates, regular account monitoring, and stringent institutional safeguards—particularly in government-linked banking systems—where dormant accounts may be seen as easy targets.

As the inquiry deepens, it is hoped that the probe will expose whoever exploited a deceased officer’s savings with such audacity and secure justice for the aggrieved family.

#FinancialFraud #AllahabadHighCourt #PostalSavingsAccount #BankingSecurity #DormantAccountFraud #WidowSeeksJustice #EmbezzlementCase #InsiderCrimeSuspected #PrayagrajNews #LegalRights #PublicAccountSafety