Gujarat doctor duped of ₹1.50 crore in insurance fraud; 3 arrested from Ghaziabad
Synopsis
A retired professor with an MBA, a former vehicle loan agent, and an ex-call centre telecaller allegedly ran a years-long insurance refund scam that bilked a Surat doctor of ₹1.50 crore. When police cracked the case, they found 47 linked bank accounts, 90 debit cards, and a printed target list — pointing to a far wider operation spanning 15 states.
Key Takeaways
A Surat senior citizen doctor was allegedly defrauded of ₹1,50,33,004 over eight years (2018–2026) by fraudsters posing as Insurance Ombudsman representatives.
Three accused — Atulkumar Sharma (64) , Mahesh Sharma (43) , and Sonu Thakur (32) — were arrested from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh .
Police recovered 90 debit cards , 42 cheque books , 25 SIM cards , and 70 printed sheets of policyholder data from the accused.
Investigators identified 47 bank accounts linked to the main accused, with 73 fraud complaints across 15 states on the NCCRP .
The fraud network reportedly sourced policyholder data from call centre operations and shared it across criminal groups in Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad .
A Surat-based senior citizen doctor was allegedly defrauded of ₹1,50,33,004 — approximately ₹1.50 crore — over eight years by fraudsters who posed as representatives of the Insurance Ombudsman and promised refunds on insurance policies. Three accused, including a 64-year-old retired professor, were arrested by the Surat City Cyber Crime Cell after investigators traced them to Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, using a single mobile number that had since been switched off.
How the Fraud Unfolded
According to police, the accused first persuaded the complainant to purchase around 15 insurance policies in 2018, gaining his trust by impersonating Insurance Ombudsman officials. Over the following two to three years, they allegedly contacted him repeatedly, claiming that the funds invested in his policies could be refunded provided he paid various processing charges.
The victim was reportedly made to transfer money in small instalments — ₹10,000, ₹15,000, ₹25,000, and other amounts — accumulating over time into a total loss of ₹1.50 crore between 2018 and 2026. The complainant approached the cybercrime police two to three months ago, triggering the investigation.
Who Was Arrested and Their Roles
The three arrested accused have been identified as Atulkumar Sharma (64), a retired professor holding BSc and MBA degrees who formerly taught at IMT College; Mahesh Sharma (43), who had worked in vehicle loan arrangements, electricity meter reading, and as a salesman for an Ayurvedic medicine company; and Sonu Thakur (32), a Class 12 pass-out who had previously worked as a telecaller at a call centre.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Cell) Bishakha Jain, Atulkumar allegedly arranged SIM cards and bank accounts by approaching financially needy individuals on the pretext of helping them obtain gas connections, retaining their net banking credentials, passwords, and bank kits before passing the SIM cards to Mahesh. Mahesh then forwarded these to Sonu, who used different mobile handsets to contact insurance policyholders and demand money under the guise of processing refunds.
Jain noted that Sonu had worked in call centre operations of insurance companies since 2018 and was familiar with the process of obtaining policyholder data — a key detail that reportedly gave the operation its insider edge.
Evidence Recovered and Network Scale
During searches, police recovered nine mobile phones, 42 cheque books, 17 passbooks, 90 debit cards, 25 SIM cards, around 80 empty SIM card trays, and ₹28,740 in cash from Atulkumar. From Sonu, investigators seized three mobile phones, ₹1.77 lakh in cash, and 70 printouts containing detailed policyholder information — with markings indicating which individuals had already been contacted and which had not.
Investigators identified 47 bank accounts linked to Atulkumar. A check on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) revealed 73 complaints registered across 15 states, involving alleged online fraud of approximately ₹33.10 lakh. Telangana recorded the highest number of complaints at 15, followed by Tamil Nadu (14), Maharashtra (7), Karnataka and Goa (6 each), Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan (5 each), and Bihar (4).
The commission structure was reportedly layered: Atulkumar retained 35 to 50 per cent of withdrawn funds, passing the rest to Mahesh, who kept 15 to 20 per cent before forwarding the remainder to Sonu.
Broader Pattern of Insurance Fraud
This case fits a documented pattern of insurance refund scams that are reportedly concentrated in Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad, where different criminal groups are suspected of exchanging policyholder data to expand their reach. DCP Jain cautioned that the 73 NCCRP complaints could involve multiple cyber fraud groups, as such gangs are suspected of sharing victim data.
The case has been registered under Sections 319(2), 318(4), 336(2), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2008. Police have advised insurance policyholders to avoid responding to unsolicited calls promising bonuses or refunds and to verify all such claims directly with the insurance company. As investigations continue, authorities have not ruled out further arrests linked to the wider network.
Point of View
90 debit cards, and a printed call list covering policyholders across 15 states. The accused did not rely on sophisticated technology — they relied on insider knowledge of insurance company databases and the systematic laundering of SIM cards through financially vulnerable people. That data pipeline, not the individual arrests, is the real story. Until insurers are compelled to explain how policyholder details — names, policy numbers, contact information — flow out of their systems and into criminal hands, similar syndicates will simply reconstitute themselves.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How was the Surat doctor defrauded of ₹1.50 crore?
The accused posed as Insurance Ombudsman representatives and first persuaded the doctor to purchase around 15 insurance policies in 2018. Over the next several years, they contacted him claiming his policy money could be refunded if he paid various processing charges, extracting money in small instalments that totalled ₹1,50,33,004 by 2026.
Who were the three persons arrested in connection with the fraud?
The arrested accused are Atulkumar Sharma (64), a retired professor who allegedly arranged SIM cards and bank accounts; Mahesh Sharma (43), a former vehicle loan agent who acted as an intermediary; and Sonu Thakur (32), an ex-call centre telecaller who directly contacted victims. All three were arrested from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
How did police trace the accused?
The Surat City Cyber Crime Cell analysed call detail records from mobile numbers and WhatsApp contacts used in the fraud. A team then spent a week in Ghaziabad tracing the suspects on the basis of a single calling number, which had become inactive by the time of the investigation.
How widespread is the fraud network?
A check of 47 bank accounts linked to the main accused on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal revealed 73 complaints across 15 states, involving alleged fraud of approximately ₹33.10 lakh. Telangana had the highest number of complaints (15), followed by Tamil Nadu (14) and Maharashtra (7).
How can insurance policyholders protect themselves from such scams?
Police have advised policyholders not to respond to unsolicited calls or messages promising bonuses or refunds on insurance policies, and to verify all such claims directly with the insurance company through its official helpline or branch. Victims of such fraud can report incidents to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP).
