A special CBI court in Lucknow delivered a decisive verdict on Saturday, convicting and sentencing four individuals involved in a long-standing fake insurance claim case. The fraudulent scheme resulted in illicit payments exceeding Rs 9 lakh to an insurance company.
Sentences and Fines Imposed
The court handed down strict punishments to the convicted parties. N.K. Singhal, who served as the administrative officer at New India Assurance Co Ltd's Kanpur Divisional Office-III, received a three-year rigorous imprisonment term. He must also pay a substantial fine of Rs 2.3 lakh.
Two other accused persons, Sanjay Kumar Jain and Neeraj Kapoor, each face three years in prison. The court ordered both men to pay fines of Rs 95,000.
Brijesh Kanodia, the fourth convict, received a slightly lighter sentence. He will serve two years of imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs 25,000.
Details of the Fraudulent Scheme
The Central Bureau of Investigation originally registered this case on January 30, 2004. Prosecutors presented evidence showing that Singhal, during his tenure at the Kanpur office from 1999 to 2002, engaged in a criminal conspiracy with others.
This conspiracy involved multiple illegal activities including cheating, forgery, and criminal misconduct. The group's actions led to the approval and payment of completely fabricated insurance claims.
Financial Impact and Losses
The fraudulent claims totaled approximately Rs 9.81 lakh. These payments caused direct financial loss to the insurance provider, New India Assurance Company.
The prosecution successfully demonstrated how the conspirators manipulated the system to authorize these fake claims over several years.
Other Case Developments
While four individuals faced conviction, the court acquitted one defendant. Pradeep Kumar Dixit walked free after the court found insufficient evidence against him.
Proceedings against two other accused persons took a different turn. The cases against Neeraj Agarwal, who worked as an assistant manager at the Kanpur office, and Amar Nath Shukla were formally closed. Both men passed away during the lengthy trial process, leading to the abatement of legal actions against them.
This verdict concludes a legal battle that spanned nearly two decades, finally delivering justice for the fraudulent insurance scheme that operated in Kanpur.
