A 42-year-old man, who had allegedly deserted Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and used to cheat insurance companies by filing false theft insurance claims of high-end cars, was arrested in South Delhi's Vasant Vihar.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), south district, Ishwar Singh, said the accused identified as Devender Kumar Dabas, used to lodge false theft reports on the Delhi Police's portal for reporting motor vehicle thefts.
Using the modus operandi of filing false theft reports and then taking insurance claims, Kumar had managed to obtain false motor theft insurance claims of an Innova, a Volkswagon Polo, Honda City etc.
On July 27, police learnt about a man, identified as Devender Kumar Dabas, coming to Vasant Vihar to meet his associates. It was also learnt that he has served with a paramilitary force and carries an illegal weapon with him, police said.
A trap was laid near lieutenant Ribhu Saxena Marg, Vasant Vihar and in the early evening hours, a black BMW car without a number plate was seen coming from Poorvi Marg.
He alighted from the car and was waiting for someone but after realising that police were around, he tried to drive away from there, they added. However, he was nabbed and a firearm was seized from him.
In 2010, Kumar using the then launched online registration portal for motor vehicle thefts by the Delhi Police, started duping insurance companies.
He started purchasing old cars at low prices and then obtained high-value insurance policies for these cars.
"By luring insurance agents who were struggling to find customers to achieve targets set for them by their respective companies, he would carry out his plan," said the DCP
Between 2016 and 2017, he lodged false stolen reports of nine cars of different makes, including one BMW, one Passat.
Kumar bought a BMW in his wife's name for Rs 8 lakh and got it insured for an exorbitant amount of Rs 58 lakh, he said.
He filed a false case on Delhi Police's portal alleging that his car was stolen from outer Delhi's Aman Vihar. Following his complaint, the insurance claim of Rs 58 lakh was initiated by the company.
In 1998, was recruited as a Head Constable in the SSB. Since he was facing disciplinary issues, he deserted SSB and started his tour and travel business. After deserting the SSB, he pursued a law degree from a prestigious college in Noida. He got himself registered as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi. To maintain a cover, he also runs an NGO in the name of Sahyog Jyoti at Sriniwaspuri and holds the post of General Secretary in this NGO, the DCP added.