A postal assistant, R. Tamilselvan, has been booked for misappropriation of ₹4.22 lakh from the small savings fund in 2012-13.

The Vilakkuthoon police have booked him for cheating and criminal breach of trust.

The police said that the accused had siphoned off ₹17.29 lakh from the small savings fund collected from customers of Palace Road Post Office.

However, when the crime was detected by the officials, the accused had repaid ₹13.06 lakh. However, he had not settled the full amount he had misappropriated.

Following a complaint from Divisional Postal Deputy Superintendent M. Vedharajan, the police have booked a case.