Bengaluru: On the pretext of helping to earn through investments, a postal assistant allegedly collected the signatures of five customers and withdrew Rs 11.8 lakh from their accounts. The accused, Pavithra HL, who has been working at south subdivision in Banashankari II Stage since April 2021, committed the fraud between Jan 17 and June 11, 2024, according to the police complaint.She convinced the customers to make fixed deposits under Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana and senior citizens’ special bank accounts. She obtained their signatures for opening FDs, but the customers did not know they were signing withdrawal vouchers, the complaint said.Police said Pavithra made multiple withdrawals of Rs 11.8 lakh from their accounts and used the money. The assistant superintendent of India Post branch filed a police complaint on June 21 after a customer — Mehak Arbina from Umarbagh Layout — flagged missing money from her account. The complainant said there was delay in approaching police due to verification of accounts and that the preliminary inquiry had concluded recently. The inquiry proved Pavithra pocketed the money and she was transferred to another branch. The other victims are Jayamma N from Obalappa Garden Tata Silk Farm, CR Rashmi from Banashankari III Stage, S Nagaraju from Gowdanapalya and Rathnamma from KR Road.Banashankari police have lodged a case under IPC Sections 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 408 (criminal breach of trust by clerk or servant), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant or by banker, merchant or agent), 417 (cheating), 418 (cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may ensue to person whose interest offender is bound to protect), and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property).A police officer said they will issue notice to Pavithra at the earliest.
