J&K HC refuse to quash FIR in insurance scam
TNN Bureau. Updated: 3/28/2024 3:05:56 AM
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Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday refused to quash of an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with a highly publicized scam involving a Healthcare Insurance Policy for all State Government employees.
Justice Rajnesh Oswal of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court dismissed a petition filed by Trinity Reinsurance Brokers Ltd.
The company had sought the quashing of an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with a highly publicized scam involving a Healthcare Insurance Policy for all State Government employees.
The High Court, while dismissing the petition, also directed the CBI to conclude the investigation expeditiously. The FIR, bearing No.RC1232022A0004 and dated 19.04.2022, was registered under Section 120-B r/w Section 420 of the J&K Penal Code (Ranbir Penal Code) and under Section 5(2) r/w Section 5(1)(d) of the J&K PC Act.
Trinity Reinsurance Brokers Ltd had argued that the Anti-Corruption Bureau, J&K, had already investigated the allegations raised by the General Administration Department, Government of J&K, and found no irregularity in the execution and implementation of the health scheme for J&K Government employees. Therefore, the company contended that the CBI could not continue with the investigation based on the same set of allegations.
The company also stated that it had suffered a heavy loss of approximately Rs.2.31 crores due to the cancellation of the contract by the Government. Despite providing all the requisite documents in response to notices served by the CBI, the company received another notice dated 16.01.2024 asking for a similar set of documents and personal details.
The company had been appointed as an Insurance Broker to design and implement the Group Mediclaim Healthcare Insurance Policy for all the State Government employees after a successful tendering process. However, the agreement was abruptly terminated by the Finance Department of the J&K Government on 30.11.2018 without any justification.
The dismissal of the petition by the High Court and the directive to the CBI to expedite the investigation marks a significant turn in this case.