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Time of India
20-05-2025
- Time of India
Death Certificate Scam: Delhi HC issues notice to MCD, govt over alleged verification lapses
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi MCD ) and the Delhi government, acting through its Chief Secretary, in response to allegations of gross lapses in the issuance of death certificates without proper verification, reported TOI on move stems from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Noida-based advocate Praveen Pathak, who flagged a disturbing nexus of insurance fraud spanning at least 12 states.A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, on May 14, directed the respondents to file a detailed counter-affidavit within four weeks, addressing each paragraph of the writ petition, the TOI report further added. The court also sought clarification on whether a statutory mechanism exists to govern the issuance of death certificates. The matter is scheduled for next hearing on September PIL references a Rs 500-crore life insurance scam currently under the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s investigation. The racket came to light on January 17, when Sambhal police intercepted an SUV carrying large amounts of cash and forged documents. The ED's Lucknow unit subsequently registered a case of money laundering against a criminal syndicate accused of fabricating insurance policies, forging documents — and in some cases — orchestrating murders to fraudulently claim insurance the heart of the PIL is a shocking case involving the MCD issuing two death certificates for the same individual, Trilok Kumar. The first was issued in June 2024, after Kumar's actual death, and a second in December 2024, allegedly used by fraudsters to claim Rs 22 lakh in insurance. According to TOI's investigation, the policies were fraudulently purchased three months after his to the TOI report, petitioner Praveen Pathak told the court, 'Due to gross negligence by MCD, accused persons fraudulently claimed insurance payouts using forged death certificates… This is not just a procedural lapse — it's a constitutional violation of the rights of the deceased and their families.'He added that government insurance schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, which do not require extensive verification beyond the submission of a death certificate, have exposed massive loopholes. The lack of mandatory Aadhaar linkage or unique ID verification, he argued, enables the issuance of forged or duplicate death have found that the criminal syndicate targeted terminally ill and vulnerable individuals, purchased insurance policies in their names, and later used fake or manipulated death certificates to claim payouts — often with assistance from local officials or by exploiting bureaucratic the scam drawing national attention and involving systemic corruption, identity fraud, and potentially even premeditated murders, the High Court's intervention could prompt greater scrutiny of civic records and government-backed insurance schemes.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Time of India
Multi-state insurance scam: Notices to MCD, Delhi govt over issuance of fake death certificates
The Delhi High Court has addressed notices to MCD and Delhi government regarding lapses in death certificate issuance, prompted by a plea citing a large-scale insurance scam. MEERUT: Delhi High Court has issued notices to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi govt via chief secretary over alleged lapses in issuance of death certificates without proper verification protocols. The move follows a plea filed by Noida-based advocate Praveen Pathak, who cited TOI reports highlighting a large-scale life insurance scam spanning at least 12 states. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, on May 14, directed MCD and Delhi govt to file a counter-affidavit "within four weeks". The high court bench also instructed the respondents to address each paragraph of the writ petition and clarify whether a statutory mechanism is in place for issuing death certificates. The matter is scheduled for next hearing on Sept 24. The plea cites a more disturbing national scam, now under the Enforcement Directorate (ED) lens. The scam first came to light on Jan 17, when Sambhal police intercepted an SUV carrying large amounts of cash and forged papers. Taking cognisance of the huge scam, ED's Lucknow unit, last week, registered a money laundering case against a criminal syndicate allegedly involved in fraudulent life and vehicle insurance policies amounting to over Rs 500 crore. The gang has been accused not only of fabricating policies and documentation but also of orchestrating murders to claim insurance payouts. Notably, a TOI report in Feb revealed how the MCD issued two death certificates for the same individual, Trilok Kumar - first in June 2024 (his actual death) and again in Dec the same year. The second certificate was allegedly used by fraudsters to claim insurance worth Rs 22 lakh. The policies were bought three months after Kumar passed away. Noida-based advocate and petitioner in this matter, Praveen Pathak, said: "Due to gross negligence by MCD, accused persons fraudulently claimed insurance payouts using forged death certificates. In many cases, policies were issued in the names of the dead, and fake certificates were obtained later to support the claims. This is not just a procedural lapse - it's a constitutional violation of the rights of those affected. Besides, crores of rupees have been siphoned off through meticulously planned and fabricated claims in a fraud running unhindered in 12 states -- which is disturbing -- and hence the PIL." Pathak added that loopholes in schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana -which does not require extensive verification beyond a death certificate - make such frauds easier. "The absence of a mandatory Aadhaar or unique ID check allows civic bodies to issue incorrect certificates without scrutiny," he said. After the Jan 17 episode, subsequent investigations revealed the racket's operations across multiple states and involved a disturbing pattern - targeting terminally-ill and vulnerable individuals to obtain insurance policies under false pretences.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Health insurance for all state govt staff: CM
Bhopal: CM Mohan Yadav on Sunday announced that all state govt employees would be brought under the ambit of health insurance, describing it as a significant step in strengthening the state's commitment to staff welfare. He was speaking at a felicitation function organised by MP State Employees' Union at Ravindra Bhawan. The CM said good governance which makes people's lives easier is the primary objective of his govt, and the successful implementation of this vision rests upon the govt employees. "In this sense, the employees of Madhya Pradesh are true 'Karma Yogis'. It is through their dedication and hard work that the state is progressing steadily on the path of welfare and development." He said the loyalty and sincerity of state employees have been instrumental in implementing public welfare schemes, which have placed Madhya Pradesh among the leading states of the country. Govt employees, he said, serve as a vital bridge between the administration and the people, just as Nal and Neel did in the Ramayana. The union honoured the CM for the pro-employee decisions taken in recent months. Also present on the occasion were MLA Bhagwandas Sabnani, Employees' Union state president Hemant Srivastava and general secretary Jitendra Singh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Zumbido no ouvido? Truque simples alivia isso! (Assista) Zumbido no ouvido Undo During the event, Yadav approved the union's demand to extend the benefits of the health insurance scheme to govt employees. He affirmed the state govt's unwavering commitment to employee welfare under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. In alignment with the central govt, the state has decided to match the dearness allowance for its employees with that of the centre. The long-pending demand for house rent allowance, pending for the last nine years, has also been fulfilled. Furthermore, keeping in mind the convenience of officers, employees, and their families, a comprehensive transfer policy has been implemented across the state. Yadav assured that the state government is systematically resolving all long-standing employee-related issues. Special recruitment drives are being run to fill vacant positions. All posts in the police department have been filled, and approval for police bands in all districts has been granted. The recruitment process for vacant positions is being ensured through annual MP Public Service Commission examinations. Provision of government housing for employees has also been prioritised, and soon, state-run bus services will be launched to improve public transport. He added that 3,000 newly built staff quarters in New Market have been inaugurated and allocated to employees — an initiative aimed at improving their quality of life. Anganwadi workers, mini-Anganwadi workers, and helpers will now receive coverage under the 'Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana' and 'Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana', he said. Following Modi's vision, the safety net of health insurance is being extended to a large section of the population, and in line with this effort, the health insurance demand of state employees has now been accepted. The chief minister further stated that with the expansion of industrial activities in the state, employment opportunities are on the rise. The government is providing special incentives to employment-generating industries. The state also aims to increase milk production from 9% to 20%. Several initiatives are underway for the welfare of the youth, women, farmers, and the poor as envisioned by Prime Minister Modi. Yadav emphasised that Madhya Pradesh now boasts better infrastructure, electricity, water, and road connectivity than many other states. Expressing gratitude for the honour conferred upon him, chief minister Yadav reaffirmed his belief that the government and its employees will continue to work together as a team to improve the lives of the people of Madhya Pradesh.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Sitharaman reviews financial inclusion schemes
(You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday reviewed the progress of the government's financial inclusion schemes. The meeting, chaired by Sitharaman, was attended by Department of Financial Services (DFS) Secretary M Nagaraju and other officials."The Finance Minister emphasised the need to strengthen financial inclusion initiatives by bringing the masses within their ambit and stressed the importance of enhancing customer experience across banking services," DFS said in a post on schemes which were reviewed include Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, and PM Vishwakarma, among others.
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Business Standard
09-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Biz correspondents' body to raise Atal Yojana renewal commission with banks
The Business Correspondent Resource Council (BCRC) is likely to raise the issue of non-payment of Atal Pension Yojana (APY) renewal commission by banks to business correspondents (BC), and is to seek a meeting with the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) to resolve the matter. BCRC had voiced its concern with the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), which advised it to reach out to banks directly for resolution. PFRDA said it releases APY incentives solely to APY Service Providers (APY-SPs). 'These APY-SPs, in turn, are responsible for distributing the incentives to their BCs, if applicable, based on their internal arrangements, agreements, and terms and conditions,' the regulator said in its communication to BCRC. In January this year, BCRC had taken up the matter of renewal commissions not being credited on social security schemes - Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana; and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana – to BCs with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai). It was pointed out that BCs are the frontline workers driving penetration of the government's flagship schemes, and the absence of renewal commission is demoralising. This may result in reduced participation and outreach effectiveness in the long run given that BCs invest significant time and resources in out-calling, personalised follow-ups, and re-educating customers on financial literacy. As of April 2025, APY has accumulated over 7.65 crore subscribers, mobilised a total corpus of Rs 45,974.67 crore, and recorded increasing participation from women, who now comprise about 48 per cent of all subscribers. APY is aimed at workers in the unorganised sector, who often lack formal pension coverage. It was initially available to all citizens between 18 and 40 years of age, but effective October 2022, individuals paying income tax are not eligible to join the scheme. It provides subscribers with a fixed monthly pension at the age of 60 years, based on their contributions. The different slabs are Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000, Rs 4,000, and Rs 5,000 per month. Banks receive a minimum of Rs 100 for each APY application, with incentives provided for promotional efforts and for new accounts opened during the year. The amount varies based on the number of APY subscribers with each bank. Of late, BCRC has voiced its worries on the viability of the BC channel with the Ministry of Finance. In November last year, this issue was flagged in a meeting with the Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary. During the talks, the BCRC revisited the problems highlighted by the working group set up under the chairmanship of C S Setty in December 2022. Setty, who is currently chairman of State Bank of India, was the bank's managing director at the time. It may be recalled that the first steps for rolling out the digital audit of the over 2.5 million BCs along with their training and certification was decided at a meeting held at the Department of Financial Services (DFS) with the monitoring committee on the functioning of BCs. A working committee is to be formed headed by one of the managing directors of the SBI with members drawn from Yes Bank as well as the Business Correspondents' Federation of India. Other issues which figured at this DFS meeting were the penalties imposed on BCs by banks, as well as the amounts charged by banks as security deposits, which range between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1.8 crore for 1,000 kiosk points. It was indicated that the establishment of an infrastructure and equity fund for corporate BCs, with the option to tap the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard), and the RBI Payments Infrastructure Development Fund, may be taken up at a later date.
