Insurance firm told to pay ₹7L for stolen car

JALANDHAR : The Jalandhar consumer disputes redressal forum on Thursday directed the branch manager of Bharti Axa General Insurance Company to pay ₹7.17 lakh along with 9% interest per annum from June 7, 2016 till realisation to a Nakodar resident for his stolen vehicle. The forum also asked the company to pay compensation of ₹25,000 and litigation expenses of ₹5,000 to the complainant within a month.

Raj Kumar of Nakodar had filed a complaint before the forum that he found his Hyundai Accent car missing from his house in August 2015.

He said he had filed a complaint at the nearest police station on August 6, 2015.

As the car was insured with Bharti Axa General Insurance Company, Kumar approached the firm to claim the insurance as his policy was valid from October 10, 2014 till September 10, 2015. This made the complainant eligible to claim the amount of ₹7.17 lakh.

Raj approached the insurance company for the claim but despite his repeated visits, he was denied the claim. Kumar said, “I had submitted all documents required to the insurance company but the company issued a letter on July 7, 2016, stating that my claim has been rejected as the vehicle was stolen from the house due to my negligence,” he said.

The insurance company officials said the FIR was registered after seven days of the theft. The forum concluded that it was the company’s deficiency as it failed to pay the claim.