Insurance Policy Issued To Persons On Deathbed: Allahabad High Court Orders Enquiry And Issues Warrant Against HDFC Life Manager
The Allahabad High Court also issued a warrant against the Operation Manager/Branch Head, HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd, for his appearance before the Court.
Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal, Allahabad High Court
Taking note of the fact that in several cases, life insurance policies were being issued to persons on their deathbed through middlemen, the Allahabad High Court has directed the Risk Management Committee Unit, New Delhi, to conduct an enquiry in the Moradabad region regarding such forged policies.
The High Court also issued a warrant against the Operation Manager/Branch Head, HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd, for his appearance before the Court.
The Single Bench of Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal held, “This Court came across number of cases wherein the life insurance policy was issued to the person who is on death bed through middlemen. Therefore, this court also directs Vice President, Risk Management Committee Unit (RMCU), New Delhi to conduct enquiry in Moradabad region regarding such forged policies issued to the person who is already on the death bed and role of the officials of HDFC Life Insurance Company.”
Advocate Sandip Kumar Shukla represented the Applicant, while Government Advocate represented the Respondent.
Factual Background
The Court had earlier directed the Branch Manager/Head of HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd, near Mahila Thana, Civil Lines, Moradabad, to appear before the Court to inform whether they were charging any amount in the name of processing charge or other service charges. The Manager did not appear, and the act of the Branch Head of HDFC Life Insurance was termed by the Court as a disobedience of the order.
Reasoning
The Bench noted that the Branch Head, who was directed to appear before the Court, had sent a letter to the Legal Department stating that he received information from the police regarding his appearance before the High Court. Therefore, he requested the Senior Manager Legal to make arrangements for someone to appear before the Court.
“Therefore, Sri Pulkit Gupta, Operation Manager/Head of HDFC Life Insurance, Civil Lines branch, Moradabad, instead of appearing himself as directed by this Court vide orders dated 18.02.2026 and 25.02.2026, mischievously convinced the Legal Department and his higher officers to depute some other person for appearance before this Court. Therefore, in such circumstances, Sri Ashish Agarwal, who is the head of the Sales agency, Moradabad branch of HDFC bank is present. This is very serious that a person who was specifically directed by this Court kept on playing hide and seek game instead of appearing before this court in compliance of the order of this court”, the Bench stated.
The Bench thus issued a warrant through CJM, Moradabad, against the Operation Manager/Branch Head, HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd, for his appearance before this Court. “On appearance, Sri Pulkit Agarwal, Operation Manager/Branch Head, HDFC Life Insurance will also show cause why contempt proceeding may not be initiated against him for deliberate non-compliance of the orders of this court dated 18.02.2026 and 25.02.2026”, it added.
The Bench also asked the SSP to be more careful in future and ensure the presence of the Operation Manager, HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd on the next date.
Cause Title: Nawab Ali @ Nawabuddin v. State of U.P. (Criminal Misc. Bail Application No.- 5675 of 2026)
Appearance
Applicant: Advocates Sandip Kumar Shukla, Zahid Khan
Opposite Party: Government Advocate