Fake insurance policy racket busted, two held

PUNE: The crime branch on Monday arrested a computer engineer and a web-designer for preparing and submitting fake insurance policies of three and four-wheelers at the regional transport office (RTO).

The duo has so far prepared about 150 fake policies that bear the stamps of two private insurance companies. "We suspect the involvement of some RTO agents. Action will also be taken against vehicle owners who had purchased the fake policies," said Rajendra Bhamare, assistant commissioner of police (crime).

The suspects have been identified as Santosh Baburao Nalawade (32) and Firoz Vazir Khan (30), both of Gandhinagar in Yerawada. Nalawade, who is a web designer, was arrested on Sunday on a tip-off received by police constable Deepak Kharat of the property cell of the crime branch. Firoz Khan, who is a computer engineer by qualification, was nabbed on Monday.

Police have seized a computer, a printer, pen drives, stamps of several insurance companies and fake insurance policies, said Sushama Chavan, inspector of the property cell.

Chavan said, "After we came to know about the racket, we sent one of our men as a decoy to procure a policy. Insurance company officials confirmed that the policy was fake, following which we laid a trap and nabbed Nalawade at Parnkuti chowk in Yerawada," Chavan said.

Chavan said police have recovered two fake policies from the suspect. During interrogation, Nalawade revealed Khan's name. Nalawade also admitted that he used to prepare the fake policy at his father-in-law's house in Yerawada. Nalawade would sell each policy for Rs 1,200 to 1,500.

The drivers of three and four-wheelers used to purchase these policies at cheap rate while submitting documents for passing of their vehicles in the RTO.

The police team also seized fake Aadhaar cards and ration cards from Nalawade's house.

Firoz Khan was actively involved in the racket. He used to provide technical assistance to Nalawade. Khan has previous cases of cheating registered against him with the Yerawada police station.

Source: The Times of India