Rs 501 reduced to Rs 50 as money order reaches UP town from Ambala

AMBALA, July 2: A money order worth Rs 501, sent from Ambala cantonment to Tanakpur in Uttar Pradesh, was reduced to Rs 50 by the time it reached the addressee. The amount sent by R.D. Sharma, a laboratory technician in the civil hospital here, through receipt number 4968 on June 15, reached its destination after six days, on June 21.

The addressee, Manohar Swarup Gupta, Municipal Councillor, Tanakpur received only Rs 50 as shown in the MO receipt acknowledged by the Postal Department. It did not bear the signature of the witness. The sender had sent the amount as shagun on the occasion of the marriage ceremony of his relative8217;s son. It was when Gupta, surprised at receiving a money order of Rs 50 only, contacted his relative at Tanakpur to verify the same, that the fact came to light. R. D. Sharma first complained to the Alexandra Road Post Office from where he had dispatched the money order.

Officials at the post office said such MOs, along with the amount, were sent to the General Post Office for despatch to their respective destinations. He was told that all the MOs were sent through satellite these days, so there wasn8217;t much chance of an error. Not satisfied with their reaction to his complaint, Sharma met the Chief Post Master General T. R. Sharma, who asked him to file a formal complaint so that an inquiry could be conducted into the matter. He assured the sender of full cooperation and investigation into the matter as it amounted to a case of misappropriation and could tarnish the image of the department.