Insurance Caselaws

Accidental Poison Death in Jan Shatabdi Train: NCDRC Orders LIC To Pay 10 Lacs Compensation And Claim Amount, Says Evidence Does Not Suggest Suicide

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Case Title: Branch Manager, Life Insurance Corporation of India & Anr vs Banwari Lal Gupta

Summary

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has ordered a nominee of the deceased to receive Rs. 10 Lakhs from the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). The main point of contention was whether the death was a suicide or an accident. The NCDRC determined that the death was an accident, as the deceased's viscera had positive levels of ethyl alcohol and aluminum phosphide, indicating the potential of poisoning by unidentified individuals.

The case concerned the sudden death of Jugal Kishor, a passenger on the Jan Shatabdi train who was purportedly poisoned after an attempted robbery. Banwari Lal Gupta, the brother of the deceased, filed a claim for insurance with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (the "Insurance Company"), requesting a double claim benefit for accidental death in the amount of Rs. 10 lakhs. However, the insurance company rejected the claim, disputing the cause of death and suggesting that the death might have been a suicide rather than an accidental poisoning death. The complainant used this rejection as cause to file a consumer complaint with the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Sawai Madhopur (the "District Commission") against the insurance firm. The complaint was rejected by the District Commission.