The ₹40 Lakh Lie: A True Story of Insurance Fraud in Rajkot

For months, Mitesh Chhuchhar lived two lives.

To his neighbors and friends in Rajkot, he was a cheerful tea seller — opening his stall every morning, chatting with customers, and even riding his motorbike through town. But to his insurance company, Mitesh was a man in deep suffering — paralyzed and bedridden, unable to work or live a normal life.

At least, that’s what the paperwork said.

The insurance company received a serious claim — Mitesh had allegedly suffered paralysis and was seeking ₹40 lakh under his health insurance policy. Along with the claim came a thick file of medical reports, prescriptions, and assessments. Everything looked authentic on the surface. It was approved for review by the company's Third-Party Administrator (TPA) — a team trained to verify claims and catch inconsistencies.

In the world of insurance, “utmost good faith” is the foundation. Companies trust that policyholders will be truthful, and policyholders trust that companies will treat them fairly. But in this case, something wasn’t adding up.

While reviewing the documents, a TPA analyst spotted something unusual. Some of the reports were from different doctors, and not just different names, but completely different medical styles. One key MRI report contradicted earlier findings. It was subtle, but enough to raise a red flag.

The analyst flagged the file for further investigation.

The team decided to dig deeper. They made some discreet calls to the hospitals mentioned in the documents. A few records couldn't be found in hospital systems. A few doctors didn’t seem to exist at all.

What the investigator discovered on the ground changed everything. One of the field investigators was sent to Rajkot. Just a few blocks away from the listed residential address, they found Mitesh — fully mobile — running his tea stall. He was laughing with customers, taking orders, and even riding his motorcycle.

Mitesh was perfectly healthy. This was a man running a small business with full energy.

The TPA team knew that evidence mattered more than suspicion. They observed him over the next few days, quietly recording his daily routine — opening the stall, carrying supplies, laughing, cooking, and riding.

The footage was crystal clear. Mitesh was perfectly healthy.

The final nail in the coffin came when it was discovered that his physiotherapist, Dr. Ankit Kathrani, was also involved in this conspiracy, helping Mitesh forge documents and back up the false diagnosis.

Armed with undeniable evidence, the insurance company filed a police complaint against both Mitesh and Dr. Kathrani for cheating, forgery, and fraud. What started as a routine claim turned into a ₹40 lakh fraud case that could have gone unnoticed — if not for one vigilant claims analyst who trusted their gut.