Concerns Regarding Motor Insurance Claim Investigation

As a team leader in our insurance company, I recently received a motor insurance claim that raised some doubts after examination. Through a stroke of luck, I happened to meet a mutual friend last Saturday, and our conversation touched upon Ramesh, who is insured with our company. During our discussion, he shared something surprising with me.

Ramesh had purchased an e-bike with a 5-year insurance plan, where the first year was comprehensive and the remaining four years were third-party coverage. The policy includes a clause stating that in case of theft, 90% of the bike's purchase price would be reimbursed.

Ramesh resides in Bangalore and uses his e-bike for food delivery. The bike is covered by a warranty of either 5 years or 80,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. He was nearing the warranty limit, knowing well that electric scooters have low resale value compared to traditional petrol bikes.

Recently, Ramesh parked his e-scooter in an area notorious for theft, left it overnight with minimal security, and reported it stolen the next day. Despite no CCTV cameras at the parking location, the police filed an FIR. Approximately 1 km away, CCTV footage captured someone stealing his scooter, leading the police to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Ramesh to claim insurance.

Currently, I have the claim papers on my desk. While it seems Ramesh planned this meticulously and his friend is unwilling to provide a statement against him, I lack solid evidence to prove any wrongdoing. My only option now is to forward these papers to our higher authorities for claim settlement.

Your thoughts and suggestions on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Prakash.