Private insurance firm moves HC alleging scam in accident claims

A private insurance company has moved the Madras High Court seeking investigation into an alleged scam involving multiple compensation claims over a road accident death by presenting fabricated FIR copies.
When the petition by Cholamandalam MS General insurance company came up today, Justice M S Ramesh issued notice to the Tamil Nadu Police, including the DGP, the claimants and the owner of the vehicle, said to have been involved in the accident, returnable by two weeks.
The petitioner submitted that it had received three different summons issued by the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT) on the death of Mohan in a road accident near here on February9, 2017.

The company submitted that three different advocates had moved the tribunal in Chennai and Tiruvallur seeking compensation of Rs 42.35 lakh, Rs 35 lakh and Rs 50 lakh for the same case.
It noted that there can only be one claim filed over the death of an accident victim.
The petitioner said that shocked over the multiple claims, it carried out a private investigation and claimed to have found out that the original FIR stated that Mohan, who was riding a two-wheeler, died after hitting an unknown vehicle.

However, the certified copies of FIR furnished at the tribunals mentioned that the victim hit a lorry, insured with the company, it said.

Also, according to the police investigation report downloaded from the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS) portal, the case had been closed as 'undetected' and a final report filed in a court, it said.
Further, the lorry against which the damages were claimed was involved in an accident on February 4 and had been under repair and not on the road on the day when Mohan died, it said.
As the issue was very serious and the implications were unimaginable, the insurance company lodged a complaint with the Superintendent of Police, Kancheepuram district, along with all the details on November 25 last.

Since there was no response, the company has now moved the high court seeking a direction to the police to register an FIR and conduct a thorough investigation into the scam.
It contended that the filing of three claims was nothing but a fraud and fabrication played by persons interested in pursuing a false claim against the petitioner and the insurer (lorry owner).
Besides, there appeared to be collusion and conspiracy by police in the preparation of certified copies of FIR with false information contrary to the original FIR, the company added.