Chennai: The High Court has ordered the Tamil Nadu government and the DGP to set up special investigation teams in all districts to investigate insurance fraud cases. It has also directed that criminal action be taken against officials who fail to prevent such frauds.
Senior Manager G. Vijayalakshmi of Go Digit General Insurance Company filed a case in the Chennai High Court seeking an order to constitute district-wise special investigation teams headed by an Additional DGP to investigate incidents of fraud involving the collection of insurance amounts through fake medical reports and fabricated fake accident cases.
This case came up for hearing yesterday before Judge G.K. Ilanthiraiyan. At that time, appearing for the petitioner, advocate N. Shailappa Kalyan said, “Insurance companies are being affected because tribunals that hear motor accident cases are ordering compensation for fake accidents. Lawyers, doctors, and others are also acting in collusion with this.”
Appearing for the government, criminal lawyer R. Ganeshkumar said, “It is not possible to form a special investigation team headed by an Additional DGP. In districts, teams can be formed under the leadership of DSPs from the crime branch, and in cities under the leadership of assistant commissioners,” and made this suggestion.
The details of the order issued by the judge who accepted this are: The Tamil Nadu government and the DGP should take steps to set up special investigation teams in all districts to investigate insurance fraud cases. These teams should be formed under the leadership of DSPs of the crime branch in the districts and Assistant Commissioners in the cities, and the government should provide the necessary infrastructure and financial assistance for them. The functioning of these teams should be monitored by district SPs, city police commissioners, and at the state level by the Additional DGP.
This group should investigate within the stipulated time the complaints filed by insurance companies regarding fraud and collect the relevant evidence. Departmental action as well as criminal action should be taken against officials who fail to prevent insurance fraud. After issuing these orders, the judge adjourned the hearing to next week.
