CBI to handle probe into FIR, insurance scam cases

Chennai, Mar 1: Madras High Court today entrusted with the CBI, the investigation into the alleged fake FIR and fake insurance scam cases.

A Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice A P Shah and Ms Justice Prabha Sridevan, passed the interim order on a batch of petitions from advocate Ravi and others.

The Bench directed the CBI Director, New Delhi, to constitute a special team for investigating into the matter. It also directed the CBI to file its preliminary report within four months and adjourned the case to July 19, 2006.

In its order, the Bench said the allegations were against the local police and hence it was desirable that the CBI investigate the complaint along with the complaints of fake FIRs filed by National Insurance Company and other insurance companies to meet the ends of justice.

The insurance companies had assured the court that the entire cost of investigation would be borne by them and all the necessary cooperation would be extended to the CBI. The state was also directed to extend its full cooperation and support to the probe into the various complaints, the Bench added.

The Bench made it clear that its order should not be seen as an indictment of either the state or the local police but passed keeping in mind the larger interest of justice.

The Bench further directed that if the filing of such complaints to the CBI was brought to the notice of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, the tribunal should take note of it before passing any order and if necessary to record further evidence in order to ascertain the genuineness of the claim.

UNI