Two Mail Workers Receive Prison Terms Over Illegal Commission Payments

The Lucknow CBI special court has sentenced two postal staff members for their role in an illegal commission scheme. Postal Assistant Suraj Prasad Mishra, posted at the Kundha sub‑post office of Pratapgarh, was given a three‑year imprisonment term together with a ₹15,000 fine. Sub‑Postmaster Santosh Kumar Saroj received a six‑month jail term and a ₹5,000 penalty.

According to the CBI, the case was registered on 30 November 2019 after evidence surfaced that the two officials conspired with a commission agent to demand a fixed bribe of ₹100 for each recurring deposit of ₹20,000. The officials falsely described the payment as a "facility expense" and warned the agent that refusal would lead to operational blockage.

During a raid, investigators caught Mishra processing a deposit of ₹2,00,040 while extorting a ₹1,000 bribe. A charge sheet was filed against both Mishra and Saroj on 31 December 2019, leading to a trial that concluded with their conviction.

This judgment adds to a series of recent convictions by the Lucknow CBI court, which earlier imposed sentences on four individuals linked to a ₹6.37 crore LIC fraud case, including former senior assistant Pankaj Saksena.