Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 6 Dec: HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited has deposited a cheque of Rs 8,92,000 in favour of the District Administration after firm action by District Magistrate Savin Bansal. The strict stance taken by the administration has placed companies involved in loan insurance fraud against consumers on the defensive. The fearless decisions of the DM are ensuring justice for helpless and harassed women, the elderly, and children. The latest action was taken against HDFC ERGO, which had been harassing Supriya, the widowed mother of a nine-year-old girl, despite the threat of property attachment looming over the company.
It may be recalled that on November 15 this year, the applicant Supriya Nautiyal, wife of the late Pradeep Raturi, approached the District Magistrate seeking relief. She explained that her husband had taken a loan of Rs 8,11,709 from HDFC ERGO GIC Ltd to purchase a vehicle. The bank had informed them that insurance was mandatory under IRDA guidelines, and accordingly, a policy was taken under number CI 24-14680 with Sarv Suraksha Plus Claim No. RR-CI 24-14680891. However, the insurance documents were never physically provided through post or courier.
After her husband’s death, Supriya was being pressurised by the bank to repay the loan and was threatened that the vehicle would be seized if the dues were not cleared. She requested the District Magistrate to take action against the insurance company. Despite the loan being insured, the District Magistrate issued a Recovery Certificate of Rs 8.11 lakh against HDFC ERGO GIC Ltd. for harassing the widow. The company was ordered by the DM to waive the loan within five days or face attachment and auction of its property. Following this directive, HDFC ERGO GIC Ltd deposited a cheque of Rs 8,92,000 in the name of Tehsil Sadar.
It may be recalled that other banks and insurance companies found guilty of defrauding consumers by harassing them despite insured loans are also under the DM’s radar. Several cases of loan insurance fraud are reaching the administration, with outcomes consistently resulting in attachment and auction of property or sealing of branches. In many such cases, the property of banks and insurance companies has already been attached, sending a strong message that exploitation of consumers will not be tolerated.
