Rajkot: Gondal Taluka police in Rajkot district have initiated proceedings against a 26-year-old man for allegedly setting his overturned car on fire to fraudulently claim the insurance payout.According to police, Deep Virdiya, a resident of Patidad village, was driving from Gondal towards Patidad on Sept 4. Around 5pm, he lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a turn near Patidad village. The car veered off the road and overturned in a ditch. Virdiya escaped unhurt and was helped out by local residents.Around 11pm, Virdiya and two others allegedly returned to the spot. After smoke was noticed coming from the vehicle, the fire department was alerted. Firefighters later extinguished the blaze.The incident was initially attributed to a short circuit, with the damage to the car estimated at around Rs 7 lakh.However, during the investigation, the police found that petrol had been taken to the spot, poured over the vehicle and ignited. Police further found that the petrol was obtained from the cement factory near Patidad.Investigators suspect that the fire was deliberately set to create the impression of accidental damage and facilitate an insurance claim. Virdiya also allegedly gave false information to police by claiming that the vehicle had caught fire because of a short circuit.Police booked him under Sections 326(F) (causing grievous hurt with weapon), 318(4) (cheating to obtain property) and 240 (giving false information to public servant) of the BNS.
