Cuttack: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a fresh FIR in connection with the multi-crore fake vehicle accident insurance scam in Odisha, tightening its probe into fraudulent Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) cases.
The latest case involves Cuttack resident Brajakishore Sahoo, who was accused of ramming his motorcycle into another biker in 2021, leading to the latter’s death. The incident, initially investigated by Mangalabag police as a case of rash driving and negligent homicide, has now been brought under the CBI’s scanner following directions from the Orissa High Court.
The High Court, acting on a petition filed by ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company, had observed that the “scale, magnitude, and complexity of the crime” made it difficult for state police to carry out a fair probe. It directed the federal agency to take over the investigation, citing the need to uncover the conspiracy and money trail.
The CBI registered the FIR (RC0152025A0012) on Monday, quoting the operative part of the HC order that specifically referenced the Supreme Court’s judgment in Safiq Ahmed vs. ICICI Lombard General Insurance.
The accident in question had allegedly caused the death of Gurucharan Prasad, a Cuttack resident. His daughter, Suchismita Prasad, had filed the initial complaint against Sahoo. Police filed a chargesheet in February 2022, after which an insurance claim was submitted.
According to investigators, the scam involves at least 33 suspected fake MACT cases across 30 police stations since 2021, many of which curiously feature an “offending driver” with the same name. The insurance company alleged before the court that fraudsters were repeatedly using identical driver details to file false claims, siphoning off crores of rupees.
With the CBI stepping in, the probe is now expected to trace the larger network behind the racket and establish the money trail.
