‘False road accident insurance settlement claims’: 13 UP police officers suspended, probe on

According to an official, as per established rules, when a person dies in a road accident, compensation is paid to the deceased’s family by the insurance company. However, in cases where the vehicle involved is not insured or the driver does not possess a valid driving licence, the liability to pay compensation rests with the vehicle owner or the driver concerned.

During the SIT inquiry, irregularities were detected in nine cases in Bahraich and two cases each in Gonda and Shravasti. The remaining seven cases were examined and found to be genuine, with no evidence of wrongdoing.

The police said in the 13 cases where foul play was detected, four involved replacement of vehicles originally involved in the accidents, while in eight cases, the details of the drivers were changed during the course of the investigation. In one case, the inquiry revealed that the victim’s vehicle had actually collided with a stray dog, but it was falsely recorded during the investigation as an accident involving a motorcycle.

Police officers said the investigation revealed that actual vehicles involved in the accidents were replaced with insured ones, and in cases where the drivers did not have valid driving licences, investigation records were manipulated to show that the accidents had been caused by other drivers who possessed valid licences.

After the police filed charge sheets in the cases, the documents were forwarded to the insurance company for the payment of compensation to the victims’ families. Before processing the claims, the insurance company conducted preliminary inquiries, which allegedly included speaking to residents and gathering information through other means.

After detecting suspected irregularities in several cases, the company submitted applications to senior police officers seeking verification of the claims. Subsequently, an SIT was formed last year to conduct a detailed probe.

UP Police sources said serious lapses and misconduct were found on the part of the investigating officers in these attempted cases to unlawfully obtain compensation from the insurance company.

Pathak, meanwhile, added that directions have been issued to review all accident cases registered in the Devipatan Range, which comprises the four districts of Balrampur, Gonda, Shravasti, and Bahraich.