Brakes put on gang conning money from car insurance firms, and fooling police, in Delhi hit-and-run crashes

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Gang members are ruthlessly targeting the victims of car crashes in Delhi, and fooling police officers into giving them information, so they can fraudulently claim compensation from insurance companies.

The Mail Today has learned that the fraudsters obtain details about hit-and-runs by downloading the e-FIR that contains all the information about accidents. 

They would 'become' eyewitnesses, drivers and owners of the vehicles supposedly involved in such crashes. Gang members would also convince a victim's family to support their fraudulent actions, by giving them part of the insurance cash.

Gang members target hit-and-run cases in the capital to defraud insurance companies

A car insurance company paid out `35,75,000 and `60 lakh to the beneficiaries in two cases

A source explained: 'The gang does a recce of the accident spot to know about the availability of CCTV cameras. They target only those cases that have a lack of evidence.

'Then one of the gang members will contact police and say that he has seen the accident taking place. The investigating officer then verified the details. 

'As the gang member was already prepared, the details would match. The person then helped the cops by sharing the details of the vehicle that had killed the victim. In actual fact, the vehicle details were from his own gang.' 

Upon receiving information about the registration number of the fake vehicle, the police would take out the details of the owner. 

When the owner was called at the police station, he said at the time of the accident that his driver was at the wheel

Furthermore, the driver (who was also the gang member) was summoned to the police station. He then confessed to the crime (that was actually not committed).

Upon receiving information about the registration number of the fake vehicle, the police would take out the details of the owner (stock image)

After verification of all the verbal statements by the eyewitness, owner and the driver, the name of the accused used to be added in the FIR and then the arrest was made. 

As it is a bailable offence, the driver was released immediately. The police then filed a charge sheet and the trial continued in the local court. 

Meanwhile, the gang members would approach the victim's family and lured them to support their ruse, with the insurance claim worth lakhs of rupees. 

As the vehicle was insured, they received a large sum of money against third party insurance and beneficiary claims

Sources said the gang used to give a percentage of their compensation to the victim's family, while they would keep the lion's share themselves. 

As the vehicle was insured, they received a large sum of money against third party insurance and beneficiary claims. 

However, in September, the gang's activity was noticed by the insurance company, which saw that fake claims were being raised in the detailed accident reports being filed by the investigating officers in collusion with certain people. 

The gang does a recce of where the accident took place, to gauge whether CCTV is in the vicinity

The insurance company then submitted a criminal miscellaneous application with the High Court.  As a result, Delhi Police were told to re-investigate all the cases specified by the insurance firm. 

The majority of these were registered in Narela, Bawana, Kanjhawala, Begumpur, and Shahbad Dairy.  

On Tuesday, a case under sections 420 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code was registered by the crime branch, and an investigation is being carried out. 

A crime branch official said: 'During scrutiny of the case files, it was found that chargesheets have been filed in these matters and in almost all the cases have been decided from the trial courts.

'Later, during the investigation, the modus operandi was learned and teams have been formed to nab the accused people who have been identified.' 

So far, the insurance company has released `35,75,000 and `60 lakh to the beneficiaries in two cases.