my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 29 Nov: The Dehradun District administration has taken decisive action against HDFC Ergo General Insurance Company Limited after it allegedly harassed Supriya Nautiyal, the widow of Pradeep Raturi, over repayment of a vehicle loan that was already insured. District Magistrate Savin Bansal has issued a recovery certificate of Rs 8.11 lakhs against the insurance company with a directive that the loan be waived within five days, failing which the company’s assets will be attached and auctioned.
It may be recalled that the matter had been brought to the notice of the administration on 15 November, when Supriya Nautiyal approached DM Bansal, stating that her late husband had taken a loan of Rs 8,11,709 from the Manager, HDFC Ergo GIC Ltd, for the purchase of a vehicle. Raturi had been informed that insurance was mandatory under IRDA guidelines, after which the loan was insured under Policy Number CI 24-14680 and Sarv Suraksha Plus Claim Number RR-CI 24-14680891. However, the insurance documents were never provided to the family.
Following Raturi’s death, Nautiyal alleged that the bank was pressurising her to repay the Rs 8,11,709 loan and threatening to seize the vehicle. Distressed by the harassment, she approached the District Magistrate seeking strict action against the insurance company. Taking serious cognisance of the matter, the DM issued a stern ultimatum to HDFC Ergo GIC Ltd, directing it to waive the loan immediately or face severe punitive action, including attachment and auction of assets. The administration has described the case as an instance of insurance fraud.
It may be pertinent to recall here that the Dehradun DM has placed several other banks and insurance companies under scrutiny in the past also for similar complaints of harassment despite the existence of insured loans. Loan insurance fraud cases reaching the DM’s office are leading to stringent measures such as attachment and auction of properties and closure of branches, with several establishments already facing such action.
The DM has adopted a firm stance against the rising number of loan-related frauds and has emphasised that strict action will be taken in every case. The Tehsildar, Sadar, has been directed to recover Rs 8,11,709 from HDFC Ergo GIC Ltd, located at the 3rd Floor, NCR Developers, 24A, New Cantonment Road, Vijay Colony, Shakti Colony, Dehradun, as arrears of land revenue.
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