In April 2025, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police exposed a huge insurance fraud worth around ₹30 crore. The main accused is Dinesh Bansal, who, along with others, created hundreds of fake car accident claims, mostly citing airbag damage, to cheat Tata AIG General Insurance Company. This scam shocked the nation and showed how fraudsters can abuse systems from the inside .The 420+11ThePrint+11TaxTMI+11
Who Is Dinesh Bansal?
- A man from Haryana, studied up to class 10, later moved to Delhi.
- He began with selling used cars and then set up a vehicle repair and leasing business in Swaroop Nagar, Delhi.
- His plan: lease high-end used cars to businessmen under attractive deals insurance and repair included. In return, he asked for a future buy-back. This way, he got control of many cars.LinkedIn+2Delhi Police+2The Times of India+2
How the Scam Worked (Modus Operandi)
Between February 2019 and August 2021, Bansal processed around 500 fake claims, each for ₹2 lakh to ₹4.5 lakh. He claimed two to three accidents per vehicle every year. Many involved only airbag damage, which is easy to falsely claim using doctored photos.
To succeed, he:
- Set up four workshops (two under his wife’s name, one under a friend) to mix operations and hide links.TaxTMI+9Delhi Police+9TaxTMI+9
- Colluded with four former Tata AIG employees and three IRDAI‑licensed surveyors, all paid a cut—about 15% of each claim.The Times of India+13Delhi Police+13MillenniumPost+13
- Filed multiple claims on the same vehicle under different policyholder names, used identical photos across claims, and tampered with registration numbers. Driver/owner statements also did not match claims.The Times of India+7Delhi Police+7ThePrint+7
- Routed money through eight shell companies, with a chartered accountant taking 10% commission to launder funds.LinkedIn+5Delhi Police+5ThePrint+5
How the Fraud Was Discovered
- The scheme came to light after Tata AIG’s Fraud Control Unit, led by Virender Pal Singh, filed a complaint to Delhi Police in June 2022.X (formerly Twitter)+10Delhi Police+10ThePrint+10
- EOW opened a case under FIR No. 139/2022, citing IPC sections like 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery), and 120B (criminal conspiracy).Delhi Police
Investigation Finding
Police investigators found multiple red flags:
- Same vehicle claimed by different people under different policy numbers.
- Same photos used across multiple claims.
- Drivers and owners gave inconsistent accident versions.
- Registration details did not match chassis or insurance documents.LinkedIn+8Delhi Police+8LinkedIn+8
After technical surveillance, Bansal was arrested in April 2025 from Samaypur Badli Industrial Area. Two Tata AIG officials Pradeep Rana (Chief Manager) and Deepak Sharma (Examiner) were arrested on April 14, 2025 for their role. Another accused, Raju Singh, was already in judicial custody since August 2024.LinkedIn+7Delhi Police+7ThePrint+7
Scope of the Fraud
- Total loss to Tata AIG estimated around ₹30 crore.
- Over 500 fake claims in just 2.5 years.
- Each claim between ₹2 lakh to ₹4.5 lakh.
- Payments flowed through shell companies with accomplices both inside and outside the insurance company.X (formerly Twitter)+9ThePrint+9TaxTMI+9
Why This Scam Grew So Large
- Insider access: Bansal used trusted contacts inside the insurance company.
- Weak controls: Workstations did not match vehicle details; claims not cross-checked.
- Photo forgery and repetition: Same images reused to claim multiple accidents.
- Paper manipulation: Fake invoices, forged registrations, and inconsistent statements.
- Complex funds routing: Money hidden in shell firms and laundered via accountants.MillenniumPost
Aftermath & Legal Action
- Dinesh Bansal is now detained under charges of fraud, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering.
- Former Tata AIG officials, surveyors, workshop owners, and policyholders are under arrest or investigation.
- Police warned the public not to be fooled by middlemen or workshop staff tempting car owners with “accident benefits” they didn’t deserve. They also cautioned insurance employees not to accept bribes or commission deals.The 420+5Delhi Police+5The Times of India+5
Lessons Learned
- Insurance fraud is illegal and serious. The ₹30 crore loss shows how big impact frauds can have.
- Companies now use modern fraud tools, internal audits, and digital monitoring to catch scams early.
- Caution for vehicle owners: Never rely on unknown agents or workshop workers who push you to claim fake accidents.
- Transparency matters: Insurers must verify photos, vehicle history, policy data, and claim sources.
- Public awareness: If you see suspicious claims or practices, report them immediately.
The case of Dinesh Bansal is not fiction it is a real lesson in how simple greed and weak checks can lead to major crime. From leasing used cars to submitting forged invoices, the scam grew with collusion, deception, and inside help.
While Bansal and his team tried to look legitimate, the police and insurance company did not stop—once they investigated properly. In the end, justice is catching up.
This reveals the dangers of faking accidents, forging documents, and involving yourself or others in such schemes even under pressure or temptation.
⚠️ Final Warning
This story is real. If someone offers you an easy way to get insurance money by staging or faking an accident do not ever do it. It is a criminal offence with serious legal penalties: jail time, large fines, loss of future insurance, and destroyed reputation.
Insurance is meant to protect you in real emergencies, not to be used for dishonest gain. Always act honestly, contact your insurer if in doubt, and refuse to accept or participate in scams.
Stay honest. Stay safe. Trust the law not quick fixes.
