Bogus insurance claims: CBI probe evokes knee jerk reaction

Chennai, Apr 25 (UNI) After the CBI started digging deep into the thousands of fraudulent accident injuries and death claims, which were unearthed in 2005, hundreds of claimants have started withdrawing their claims in several parts of Tamil Nadu, fearing action.

This was disclosed in the status report filed by the CBI before the Madras High Court, which had ordered a probe by the premier investigating agency in 2005, following writ petitions by various insurance firms alleging filing of large-scale fraudulent accident claims using forged documents.

The CBI said a total number of 427 claimants had withdrawn their claims made to the tune of Rs 184 crore.

These 427 claimants were filed before the National Insurance Company Limited alone, it said.

The report said a majority of the bogus claims were filed in Dharapuram (191), followed by Namakkal (87), Trichy and DCL Trichy (35), Pudukkottai (32), Bhavani (23), Tiruppur (10), Erode (seven), Dindugul and Coimbatore (six each), Gobichettipalayam, Salem, Tiruneveli and Kuzhiturai (four each), Madurai and Sivaganga (three each), Tenkasi (two), and Krishnagiri, Sankagiri, Padmanabhapuram, Ramanathapuram, Karur and Udumalpet (one each).

''All these 427 claimants have withdrawn their claims fearing action'', the CBI said.

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