UP man brings employee's body for cremation to claim ₹50 lakh insurance, turns out to be a dummy

Police foiled an insurance fraud attempt in Hapur. A Delhi man brought a mannequin to a cremation ground, claiming it was his deceased employee. He planned to get a death certificate and claim a 50 lakh insurance policy. The cremation staff grew suspicious and alerted authorities. The man was arrested. He was reportedly in debt due to business losses.

UP Police on Thursday stopped an unusual insurance fraud attempt after a Delhi man arrived at Hapur's Brijghat cremation ground with what he claimed was the body of his employee, Anshul Kumar. The “body,” wrapped like a hospital release, was actually a mannequin. Staff at the cremation ground grew suspicious, opened the cover and alerted police, a TOI report stated.

How the plot unfolded

According to police, Kamal Somani, 32, from Palam's Kailashpuri colony, brought the dummy in a car along with an aide and insisted it be cremated without inspection. The cremation staff refused and uncovered the fake body. Police detained Somani soon after.

Police reveal what Somani planned

Garhmukteshwar circle officer Stuti Singh said, "During questioning, Somani revealed that he took out an insurance policy last year in his employee Anshul Kumar's name. It was worth Rs 50 lakh. He even paid regular premiums on that policy. On Thursday, he brought a dummy to Brijghat, intending to pass it off as Kumar, obtain a death certificate after cremation and then claim the insurance payout. He also used Kumar's Aadhaar and PAN cards under false pretence."

Singh added, "Interestingly, when we used Somani's phone to contact Kumar, he was doing well and had no idea about his ‘death'. We have detained Somani and released his aide as the latter perhaps had no idea about the plot. Now, an FIR will be filed against him under relevant sections."

Debt, losses and a desperate gamble

Police said Somani was under a debt of around ₹50 lakh. He ran a dry fruit shop and suffered major losses during the pandemic. Unable to repay loans, he allegedly thought a fake death claim would help him wipe out his financial burden.

TOI had earlier reported on a large insurance scam spread across 11 states, exposed after UP Police intercepted an SUV in Sambhal in January. The vehicle carried cash, forged PAN cards, Aadhaar details and several fake documents. That discovery triggered a statewide crackdown and later an ED case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Investigators have since prepared an 800-page chargesheet and identified operatives in UP, Bihar and Jharkhand. Over 50 people have been arrested so far across multiple FIRs.

This latest incident at Brijghat adds another offbeat twist to the growing list of unusual insurance fraud attempts surfacing in the state.

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Source: EconomicTimes
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