On Monday, the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch registered a First Information Report (FIR) after a court's direction. (File photo)In February 2023, Dayanand Sharma fom Delhi, 45, met with a road accident while driving his car. Though he was worried at first, he took solace in the fact that he had a vehicle insurance of Royal Sundaram General Insurance to cover the cost of damages his car suffered.However, three days later, when he checked mParivahan, a mobile application developed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways that provides citizens with access to various transport-related services, nothing appeared as he entered his credentials and insurance details. This, he said, raised alarm bells in his mind.“After this, I showed my insurance to a man I knew in Ghaziabad. He spotted it as a fake insurance instantly. I own a car and I had been sold a two-wheeler insurance at a premium of Rs 15,000 by agents who reached out to me over the phone,” Sharma told The Indian Express.“I went to an office of Royal Sundaram General Insurance Company and was shocked to find out that my insurance was fake. Even my name on the documents was wrong,” he said.“I never thought someone could defraud you like this… is it worth scamming someone for a few thousand bucks?” asked Sharma, who is one of the 5,000 people from Delhi allegedly duped in a countrywide vehicle insurance scam.On Monday, the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch registered a First Information Report (FIR) after a court’s direction. Royal Sundaram General Insurance Company Limited alleged that various agents and intermediaries had issued fake policies to over 80,000 customers across India.According to the FIR, unidentified insurance agents allegedly misused the company’s website to sell fraudulent policies to unsuspecting customers. The accused allegedly sold policies using incorrect details such as email addresses, contact numbers, and vehicle models, it said.Story continues below this adThe FIR said the agents allegedly defrauded customers by charging a premium amount for four-wheelers while issuing two-wheeler insurance policies.Royal Sundaram General Insurance discovered the irregularities when it received several summonses from the motor accident claims tribunals of various states regarding insurance claims from accident victims. It claimed that it understood the modus operandi of the agents when customers like Sharma came to them.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:New DelhiVehicle Insurance