SSB deserter held for cheating insurance firms

A Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) deserter who cheated insurance companies by filing false theft claims for high-end cars was arrested in south Delhi's Vasant Vihar, police said today.

Devender Kumar Dabas (42), had managed to obtain insurance claims for BMW, Volkswagen and Honda sedans among other expensive vehicles, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ishwar Singh.

On July 27, the police learnt he was coming to Vasant Vihar to meet his associates and set a trap in the area. They also learnt he had served with the paramilitary force and carried an unlicensed gun with him.

Realising that the police were onto him after arriving there, he tried to drive away in his black BMW that did not have a number plate, Singh said.He was nabbed and his weapon was seized.

In 2010, Kumar, using the-then launched Delhi Police website for registering vehicle thefts, started duping insurance companies.

He purchased old cars at low prices and obtained high value insurance policies for them, targeting insurance agents struggling to achieve targets set for them by their companies, police said.

After insuring the vehicle, he lodged false theft reports of these cars and obtained high insurance claims.

Between 2016 and 2017, he lodged false theft reports of nine cars of different makes.

In 1998, Kumar was recruited as a Head Constable in the SSB. Since he was facing disciplinary issues, he deserted the force and started a tour and travel business.