A district consumer commission in Andhra Pradesh has directed ICICI Lombard General Insurance to pay a deceased policyholder's family Rs 50 lakh under an accidental death insurance policy, holding that an insurer cannot introduce new conditions at the claim stage after issuing the policy, according to a Times of India report on July 24.
The Kurnool District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission observed that the complainant had submitted all essential documents including the FIR, post-mortem report, inquest report, death certificate and charge sheet. The insurer rejected the claim citing missing police final report and later demanded income tax returns and bank statements — documents it had not required at policy issuance.
"Having accepted the risk and issued the policy without insisting upon such particulars at the inception of the contract, the Opposite Parties cannot subsequently, at the stage of claim, insist upon production of Income Tax Returns or income proof," the commission held. The insurer was ordered to pay 9% annual interest if the amount is not paid within 45 days.
Source: Times of India (July 24, 2026)