Bhubaneswar: Director-general of police R.P. Sharma on Monday issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for district police to deal with fraudulent insurance claims.

The police had encountered 18 false insurance claim cases in 2016.

According to the SOP, the SP concerned have been asked to go through the cases and check relevant documents to ensure a transparent investigation. Sharma has also warned legal and departmental action against police officials involved in such cases who do not stick to rules. The SOP also asked the SPs to convene regular meetings with officers of insurance companies to get feedbacks on specific false claims.

The police said the most common insurance fraud cases reported were fake vehicle accidents, fake injury claims and fake workman compensation claims.

"We found some unscrupulous elements in connivance with lawyers, doctors, transport and police officials working hand-in-glove to make false claims and obtain illegitimate financial benefits from insurance companies. If there is any complaint against the local police, the case should be supervised by a DSP-rank officer," said Sharma.

In June 2016, an inspector, a doctor and a lawyer were arrested in Cuttack for allegedly facilitating false accident insurance claims.