Uttar Pradesh News:
Police in Sambhal have confiscated assets worth 11 crore 89 lakh 51 thousand rupees belonging to the alleged insurance scam mastermind, Omkareshwar Mishra, and key accused Sachin Sharma, among others, under the Gangster Act. Properties spread across Sambhal, Badaun, and Noida were publicly announced and seized on Tuesday.
This gang would claim insurance on deceased or seriously ill individuals through fraudulent means, even resorting to murder, passing it off as a traffic accident. On the orders of SP Krishna Kumar Vishnoi, ASP Anukriti Sharma is leading a sweeping operation spread from Varanasi to Gautambuddha Nagar.
Assets Seized Amidst Drumbeats
When police and administrative teams arrived in the Gunaur tehsil of Sambhal with drums and loud announcements, it caused quite a stir. The police identified six properties belonging to accused Sachin Sharma and his brother Gaurav Sharma, publicizing their seizure. Properties worth approximately 9 crore 18 lakh belonging to Sachin and Gaurav in Sambhal, Badaun, and Noida have been confiscated. The gang’s network was vast, prompting a police unit to Banaras to seize mastermind Omkareshwar Mishra's property worth 1 crore 26 lakh, while another team headed to Noida.
The Insurance and Murder's Sinister Plot
The gang’s exposure in January 2025 led to 70 arrests. Investigations revealed they targeted terminally ill patients, like those with cancer or tuberculosis, insuring them with insider support from bank and insurance employees. The most alarming was the method of insuring young people, then murdering them to make it look like an accident. This scheme resulted in an insurance scam exceeding 100 crore rupees.
Source: aajtak
The Network Extended Across 12 States
According to ASP Anukriti Sharma, this racket operated in over 12 states and involved everyone from grassroots ASHA workers to bank staff and public service center operators who supplied information on deceased or ill individuals. Over 25 cases have been filed against the gang in Sambhal, Moradabad, Badaun, and Etah. In murder-related cases alone, 18 people were arrested. Now the police have dismantled this criminal network by seizing their illegally amassed wealth.
Planning with 58 Companies
Following the scam's uncovery, Sambhal police organized a significant conclave with 58 major insurance companies in Chandausi. A director from the Ministry of Finance's Department of Financial Services participated online. The core aim was to create a robust SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) to prevent future insurance fraud. It was a dialogue about enhancing police and company collaboration to completely dismantle this fraud nexus.
