A Dalit sub-postmaster, Rahul, who was suspended on charges of embezzlement, died by suicide in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr on Sunday. Rahul had been interrogated by the CBI for six hours a day before his death.
In a letter addressed to his family, Rahul accused an officer at his workplace of victimizing him and subjecting him to caste-based abuse. “I worked with honesty and dedication for 14 years, but an inquiry was conducted against me on a caste basis. The officers of the divisional office are responsible for my death,” he wrote.
Rahul had been suspended for one month in connection with a case of embezzlement involving Rs 2.5 crore. He alleged that despite evidence suggesting others were responsible for some discrepancies in the postal work, he was unfairly targeted.
“Postage stamps were put on all the envelopes by others, but the blame was put on me. Earlier, an investigation into the Dibai fake postage stamp case was done, but no FIR was lodged, nor was anyone suspended. In my case, an immediate CBI inquiry was conducted. I was deliberately targeted,” he mentioned in his letter.
The CBI had been investigating fraud involving fake stamps worth Rs 2.5 crore, used in registered, speed post, and parcel mail bookings. As part of the investigation, the postal superintendent, Rahul, a clerk, and a Class IV employee were named and suspended.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, support is available. Call Sneha Foundation at 044-24640050 (24/7) or iCall helpline at 9152987821 (Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pm).
