Bhubaneswar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Bhubaneswar has arrested a resident of Jhadakata under Kanas police limits in Puri district on the allegation of fraudulent death claims in conspiracy with nominees of deceased persons. The accused has been identified as Kabiraj Behera.
Reportedly, Kabiraj has been working as LIC agent since 2003. During the year 2013 to 2019, the accused had fraudulently managed to get/take a total of 23 of LIC policies in the names of four deceased persons, falsely claiming them as alive. After about three to five years of taking those policies, he created fake death certificates in the names of insured persons.
Thereafter, accused Kabiraj applied for death claims in favour of the nominees in the LIC Branch Office, Khordha by using those fake death certificates and attempted to avail financial benefits, death claims against those 23 policies.
From the preliminary investigation, it has been ascertained that the insurance policies were taken subsequent to the actual death of insured persons, however, the premium was being paid regularly.
In all policies, the sum assured were kept less than Rs. 10 lakhs, which comes within the financial power to settle the death benefits by the Branch manager, without referring to the Divisional Office, added reports.
The LIC of India had released payments for a total amount of claims raised by the nominees of 23 policies through the present accused was more than Rs. 1.81 crores and against five policies.
Several incriminating documents in connection to the above mentioned death claims like, Voter Identity Cards, ATM Cards, Bank Pass Books, Cheque Books, Adhaar Cards or the claimant nominees and correspondences made by LIC with those nominees have been seized from Kabiraj’s house.
Besides, some papers containing the full signatures of the Ghost Policy Holders have also been seized from his possession.
Further investigation into the matter is underway.
Also read: Bhubaneswar delivery boy fakes his own kidnapping case due to love affair
Ms Kalinga