Police in Barmer, Rajasthan, have uncovered a massive insurance scam involving fraudulent vehicle theft claims worth nearly ₹200 crore. A local transporter, identified as Sataram from Gudamalani, has been arrested for orchestrating a decade-long fraud using fabricated First Information Reports (FIRs), ghost vehicles, and collusion with officials.
Authorities revealed that many of the vehicles listed as “stolen” never existed in reality. Instead, they were created only on paper with fake registrations, often secured in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland before being re-registered in Rajasthan. These vehicles would then be reported stolen, allowing the accused to collect hefty insurance payouts.
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A Web of False Claims and Fake Registrations
Investigations show that between 2015 and 2024, at least 12 false FIRs were filed across police stations in Barmer, Jodhpur, Balotra, Beawar, and other districts. These cases allowed the accused to siphon off crores from multiple insurance companies. Police suspect that field officers from insurance firms, district transport office (DTO) employees, and even police personnel may have colluded in the scheme.
In one instance, the accused allegedly purchased two Toyota Hilux SUVs at discounted rates, paid only partial installments, and then filed false theft reports in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi. He later sold the vehicles to smugglers while simultaneously claiming insurance worth ₹55 lakh.
In other cases, trucks were deliberately set ablaze to simulate theft or an accident, enabling further fraudulent claims. Police have already seized three such vehicles and are scrutinizing more cases linked to him.
Police Eye Wider Network, ED and IT Probe Likely
The accused, arrested from the Jaipur passport office while attempting to flee abroad, reportedly operated with a network of at least eight associates who helped file bogus FIRs and tamper with chassis and engine numbers. Police are now tracing these accomplices.
Barmer Superintendent of Police Narendra Singh Meena confirmed that the accused’s assets will be referred to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department for further investigation. Authorities have also sought details of vehicle theft cases reported in the last 10 years across the Jodhpur Range.
The case underscores systemic loopholes in vehicle registration and insurance verification that were exploited for years without detection. With the scam’s scale now exposed, investigators believe more fraudulent claims could soon come to light.
