Secretariat staffer fakes death for insurance money, kills driver in Medak car fire

MEDAK: A new twist emerged in the recent incident where a car caught fire resulting in the death of a Telangana Secretariat employee at Venkatapuram of Tekmal mandal of Medak district. The police, after a detailed investigation, found out that Secretariat employee Dharma Naik had actually faked his death after setting his car ablaze, with an eye on insurance money.

He resorted to this extreme step, as he was habituated to luxury and landed in steep debts. The police said that he actually killed his driver in the fire incident and faked it as his own to claim the insurance money.

According to the police, the car driver was burnt to death after the car caught fire on January 9. When Secretariat employee Dharma Naik tried to claim insurance money, the insurance company sensed something fishy and lodged a complaint with the police.

The police started an investigation based on the evidence of the circumstances. They grew suspicious with a petrol bottle found at the accident spot and intensified their probe. It was revealed during their investigation that Dharma Naik killed the car driver as part of his plan to fake his death and make the claim for insurance money through his nominee. The accused was eventually arrested. The police were expected to produce the accused before the media.