Rs 13.36 lakh Oriental Insurance fraud case
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 18: The Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption (CBI Cases), Jammu, Pawan Kumar Sharma, today convicted four accused in a long-pending case of insurance fraud registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2007. The case pertained to fabrication of documents and submission of a fraudulent insurance claim amounting to Rs 13.36 lakh.
According to the prosecution, the accused, in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy, fabricated insurance documents in the name of a non-existent person, T K Raina. They fraudulently claimed that Raina’s residential house had been gutted in a fire and raised an insurance claim with the Oriental Insurance Company.
To camouflage the fraud, the conspirators manipulated records by changing addresses and used the genuine fire incident of Devki Devi, widow of Tara Chand Bhat of Bougam, Kulgam, whose house had been burnt by militants in October 2000. False reports and forged documents were submitted to establish a claim of Rs 13.36 lakh, which was processed and sanctioned by the Insurance Company.
The CBI investigation established that the claim was entirely bogus as neither T K Raina nor the insured property existed. The survey report prepared by M/s Saraf Investigators Pvt. Ltd. and further supported by co-accused officials was found to be fabricated.
The court held the accused guilty under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B RPC and provisions of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act. They are Darbari Lal, Teacher Govt Middle School, R S Pura, Manoj Kumar Dhar, resident of Upper Barnai, Jammu, G K Rangroo, then Assistant Divisional Manager, Oriental Insurance Company, Jammu and Lt Col (Retd.) Charanjit, Proprietor, M/s Expert Investigating Services, Jammu.
The prime accused, Subash Saraf, Surveyor of M/s Saraf Investigators Pvt. Ltd died during the pendency of trial. Darbari Lal and Manoj Kumar Dhar have been awarded imprisonment for three years, along with fine up to Rs 50,000 each. Lt Col (Retd.) Charanjit has been awarded six months imprisonment under Section 419 RPC, one year each under Sections 420, 467, 468 RPC, and six months each under Sections 471 and 120-B RPC, besides fines. All sentences shall run concurrently.
The pronouncement of judgment in respect of G K Rangroo has been deferred due to his hospitalisation. Sushil Negi, Senior Public Prosecutor (CBI), argued that the accused committed serious economic offences and cheated the Oriental Insurance Company by producing forged documents. He maintained that “such offences corrode public confidence in institutions and deserve maximum punishment.”
Advocate Vinod Wali, appearing for the accused, pleaded for leniency citing prolonged trial, old age, and family responsibilities of the convicts.
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