A startling case of insurance fraud has been unearthed in Gujarat.
Investigators say one Aslam Mohammad Chunchala&nbsp;was named as the driver in 24 separate accidents across the districts of Panchmahal, Dahod, and Mahisagar.
While it is as yet unclear if Chunchala was falsely implicated or actively involved, the claims for medical insurance payouts point to a massive conspiracy to defraud insurance companies.
According to those familiar with the development, the expose comes as a result of an investigation into a claim filed in 2016.
Back in 2016, Jagdishbhai Laxmanbhai Baria&nbsp;filed a claim seeking ₹3 lakh in compensation for injuries allegedly sustained in an accident involving a Toofan vehicle on October 22, 2015. Chunchala was named as the driver in the incident, with Sikandar Sulemanbhai Samad listed as the vehicle&rsquo;s owner.
They issued a notice to Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company, directing it to settle the claim. However, the private firm hired by Bajaj to look into the claim found that Chunchala had also been named the driver in 23 other accidents, leading to the scam being uncovered.
Kalpesh Kantilal Prajapati, Bajaj Allianz Capital&rsquo;s area manager for Godhra, filed a complaint at Godhra Taluka Police Station, accusing Chunchala of pretending to be the driver in accident cases. He allegedly offered his services for a fee across Panchmahal, Dahod, and Mahisagar districts in order to swindle the insurer.
While dramatic, this scam is not an isolated issue&nbsp;in Gujarat.
Just last year, Godhra native Hanif Mansuri from Vadodara made headlines for voluntarily taking the blame in as many as 22 cases&mdash;without actually being involved in any of them.
The first offence was registered against him at Rajgadh police station in 2008, while the last was registered at Morva Hadaf in 2019. In all, he had 20 cases against him at different police stations in Panchmahal district and one each in Dahod and Kheda.
The 2023 case came to light only when one Udesinh Solanki moved a petition in the Halol Motor Accidents Claim Tribunal (MACT) in an attempt to claim an insurance payout from ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company.
The state has long been a hotspot for dubious insurance claims, with the claim ratio in the state&mdash;a measure of claims paid against premiums collected&mdash;routinely exceeding 130%, nearly double the national average of 60-70%. Such activities drive up premiums for honest policyholders and strain the insurance ecosystem.
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AI representation of multiple accidents with a shadowy figure in the background

Aslam Mohammad Chunchala: Gujarat’s worst driver or mastermind of insurance fraud?

3 Districts | 24 Accidents | 1 Driver

Aslam Mohammad Chunchala: Gujarat’s worst driver or mastermind of insurance fraud?

December 20, 2024 | 15:24 IST