An elderly former postmaster of Indian origin has shared a heartwarming story of support from Princess Kate and the Middleton family during his ordeal in the Post Office accounting scandal. Hasmukh Shingadia, 63, who served the Middleton family at a Spar and Post Office in Upper Bucklebury, Berkshire, faced accusations of stealing £16,000 in the Post Office scandal that unfolded in 2010.
Shingadia, suspended in 2010 due to a software glitch wrongly accusing post office managers across the UK of theft and fraud, recalled serving sweets to Princess Kate, her sister Pippa, and even Prince William during the early years of the royal romance.
Despite the accusations, Princess Kate and her family stood by Shingadia, continuing to visit his Spar and Post Office after his conviction. He revealed that not everyone in the local community was as supportive, but the Middletons' unwavering kindness helped him through tough times. Shingadia and his wife were even invited to the Royal wedding in 2011, a gesture that meant a lot to them.
Cleared of charges at the Court of Appeal in 2021, Shingadia expressed gratitude for the Middleton family's support, with Michael Middleton praising him for a "well-done" after his name was cleared. Shingadia, who went through emotional and mental turmoil during the scandal, is now calling on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to exonerate all 736 sub-postmasters convicted from 2000-2015.
The story comes amidst recent developments in the Post Office scandal, with convictions of 12 people overturned, and Prime Minister Sunak confirming plans for a new law to swiftly exonerate and compensate those wrongly convicted. A public inquiry and a new investigation by London's Metropolitan Police into potential fraud offenses add to the ongoing efforts to address the injustices related to the Post Office scandal.
(With Agency Inputs)
ALSO READ | Rishi Sunak Declares Success in Achieving UK's Asylum Target
ALSO READ | New UK Student Visa Regulations Exclude Dependents
