Firozabad: An acting assistant postmaster in Uttar Pradesh’s Tundla has been arrested after an eight-month-long manhunt for allegedly embezzling Rs 2.67 crore from three post offices, and using a large portion of the money to bet in fantasy cricket games.
Police said Ravi Prakash Rathore deployed various methods to swindle money including making entries into customers’ accounts but not depositing the money, and fraudulently withdrawing from their accounts.
They said Ravi Prakash, a resident of Tapa Khurd in Firozabad’s Kotla Road, targeted not one but three post offices—Tundla Railway Sub-Post Office, Tundla Chauraha Post Office, and Hazratpur Post Office.
He lost the entire amount allegedly in betting, and went absconding in March 2025. He was arrested Thursday, following an eight-month-long diligent police investigation.
Post office officials said that between 6 January and 26 October 2023, he withdrew money in small installments and in a planned manner so the transactions were not flagged by the system.
A departmental investigation revealed he initially made transactions of ₹5,000 and ₹10,000 to avoid suspicion. He subsequently increased the withdrawals to ₹1 lakh, ₹5 lakh, and up to ₹8 lakh. The alleged irregularities remained unnoticed till January this year when a departmental audit found a mismatch between the deposit entries and the cash available.
An internal investigation began, and the audit team discovered the accused allegedly falsified records at the three post offices.
Assistant Post Superintendent Ajay Dubey filed a formal complaint, following which Ravi Prakash was suspended. He then went absconding, leading to months of police probe.
थाना टूण्डला पुलिस टीम द्वारा डांकघर टूण्डला में उपडांकपाल के पद पर रहते हुए सरकारी धन कुल 2 करोड 67 लाख 40 हजार रूपये गबन करने वाले मु0अ0स0 95/2025 धारा 409/34 भादवि में वांछित अभियुक्त रवि प्रकाश को गिरफ्तार कर की जा रही अग्रिम विधिक कार्यवाही के सम्बन्ध में क्षेत्राधिकारी… pic.twitter.com/G7BIf3kvZe
— Firozabad Police (@firozabadpolice) November 6, 2025
Local police station in-charge Anjish Kumar said they tracked his activities for eight months. “While he was absconding, his location constantly changed, and teams had to be sent to different areas to search for him. Finally, the police apprehended him at Jarauli Cut, on National Highway 19 when he was coming to visit his family.”
IPL betting
The investigation also revealed Ravi Prakash used a large portion of the “embezzled” funds on cricket betting, including Indian Premier League (IPL) matches.
According to his colleagues, he often concealed the source of his money. He had stopped coming to the post office since May last year. The investigation led to strict action against him, including issuing a non-bailable warrant and a public attachment notice (CrPC 82), but he remained at large till he was arrested.
The Firozabad Postal Department employs 16 employees, including six clerks and six postmen. The department said the embezzled money was government funds, and it will not affect the deposits of ordinary customers.
Following Ravi Prakash’s arrest, Tundla Deputy Superintendent of Police Amrish Kumar said an investigation is underway to determine whether other employees were also involved.
He said Ravi Prakash’s banking activities and transaction records, mobile chats, and call logs are also being examined. A case has been registered under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code.
He said that such cases directly impact the postal department’s reputation.
The accused has been remanded to judicial custody, and departmental monitoring and auditing of all post offices are being tightened to prevent future incidents. The police are now working to recover the embezzled funds and expose if there is a network behind him.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)