Bribe for pension: 11 postmen land in CBI net

CHENNAI: The CBI arrested 11 postmen, who were caught taking bribes for distributing old age pension (OAP) here on Monday.

Following plaints that postmen were demanding Rs 20 to Rs 40 as bribe from senior citizens, physically handicapped persons and widows while distributing OAP, CBI officials conducted a surprise check at the post offices in West Mambalam and KK Nagar. The raid yielded unaccounted cash Rs 13,945 from the postmen of both the post offices and 11 postmen were arrested.

A release said that each beneficiary was eligible for a pension of Rs 400 per month. As per the standard practice, the special tahsildar of each taluk forwarded the pension to the post office concerned by way of cheque. The postmen used this as an opportunity to deduct between Rs 20 and Rs 40 as bribe from each pensioner before handing over the remaining amount to them, the release said.

Also mentioned in the release was that during the surprise check, it was also found that instead of distributing the pension at the doorstep, the pensioners were called to the respective post offices and pension amount were distributed after deducting the bribe amount.

All the 11 postmen were produced before the special judge for CBI cases, Chennai.