Although Rathod has returned the money, the police have lodged a case after a complaint was lodged by Inspector of Post Offices Yakub Patel in the Chowk Bazaar police station on Tuesday evening.

According to the police, Rathod had withdrawn the money between September 24 and November 5 1998, from the post office for building a house. Though he returned the money, a complaint was lodged after the matter came to Patel's notice.

A routine check by Patel had revealed that there was a deficit of a sum amounting to Rs 60,000. On inquiry, Patel was told that an authorised agent had taken the money and returned it too. But further probing revealed that Rathod had taken the money. The accused had also confessed to the act, the police said.

The police is further investigating the case, while the department is yet to initiate any disciplinary action against Rathod.