Consumer court directs insurance company to pay Rs 15 lakh

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed an insurance company to pay a sum of Rs 15 lakh towards claim filed by a restaurant-owner for the loss caused due to a fire. The company had earlier rejected the claim of Rs 48 lakh filed by the insured.

As per the commissions order, the complainant Rashmi Agrawal-owner of RK Foods Chocolate Delight filed had filed a complaint against divisional and branch managers of a private insurance company seeking claim of Rs 48 lakh against the damage of goods in fire-accident along with compensation for mental agony and business loss of Rs 2 lakh.
The complainant faced financial loss due to a fire incident in which the furniture and electrical appliances were charred due to short-circuit, which happened overnight after the closing of the restaurant. Eventually, the owner learnt about the fire incident next day on opening the shop on July 11, 2015.
The complainant intimated matter to the insurance company and police station concerned which individually investigated the spot and prepared the assessment report regarding the loss. The insurance companys appointed surveyor assessed the loss of Rs 92,417, whereas the police investigated the matter and sent the report to Tehsildar in which it was mentioned the complainant suffered loss of Rs 32 lakh.
Commission chairman Justice R S Sharma with members D K Poddar and Narendra Gupta noted that the matter was reported to the concerned police station after 20 days of the incident and prepared the damage assessment report citing loss of Rs 30 to Rs 32 lakhs.