CBI Registers Case In Rs 5 Crore False Accident Claims In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The CBI has registered a case in the multiple fake accident insurance claims, amounting to Rs 5 crore, in Odisha’s Keonjhar district.

This comes after Orissa High Court in July directed  local police stations to hand over the investigation of cases related to fake motor vehicle accidents claims to the central agency. “Considering the scale, magnitude and complexity of the crime, this court is of the opinion that the State police are not in a position to carry out a fair and truthful investigation. The CBI is well equipped with the requisite skill to unearth the conspiracy and money trailing aspect of the crime. Therefore, this court directs that the cases be handed over to the CBI for investigation in the interest of justice in exercise of its inherent powers and in the spirit of the apex court’s judgment,” Justice S K Panigrahi had said while hearing a petition filed by ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co Ltd.

Five cases were registered by Keonjhar Town, Baria and Sadar police stations between 2015 and 2016. In four cases, the local police had filed chargesheets against one accused, Keshab Chandra Mahanta of Dumurinali village in Keonjhar district.  In the chargesheet of another case, police had named Keshab and another accused Gopinath Tumuri of Cuttack district.

A thorough scrutiny by the company revealed that these accidents had occurred within a span of one year and Keshab was arrayed as the accused driver in all the cases. It was also alleged that the local police and medical practitioners had connived with the claimants to misappropriate crores of rupees.

“It is highly improbable that only one driver caused so many accidents within a span of 12 months which resulted in death of 4 persons as well as grievous and simple hurts to others which appeared to have been arranged by the investigating officers. The CID, Crime Branch, had sought for initiation of necessary legal action against the erring public servants such as the investigating officer and the medical officer and persons who have filed Motor Accident Claim Tribunal Case for wrongful gain,” the Crime Branch, which was earlier investigating these claims, stated in a report.

Source said that CBI has clubbed the five FIRs and registered one case for further investigation into the matter.