Our Bureau
Jaipur
Back in 2012, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals was in a heap of controversy with an insurance claim involving former Indian cricketer S Sreesanth. The case was regarding an insurance claim for over Rs 82 lakh by the Royals on an injury that ended Sreesanth’s season with the franchise. The case which was once ruled in favor of the Royals is now being challenged in the Supreme Court.
Royals had claimed that the pacer couldn’t partake in the season due to a knee injury he suffered in a practice game prior to the season. However, the United India Insurance Company refuted the claims and believed that Sreesanth was already carrying a toe injury from 2011 which the pacer didn’t disclose and wouldn’t have participated in the tournament anyway. But the Royals stood firm that the toe injury was not a problem and Sreesanth would’ve played with it but the knee injury took him out for the season which was sustained during the insured period.
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) had previously ruled the case in favour of the Rajasthan-based franchise and had ordered the insurance company to pay the claim. The company has now appealed this decision in the Supreme Court. The high judiciary body of the country has not yet passed a verdict but has requested additional documents for the case.
The Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta has asked for the fitness certificate of Sreesanth, so that they can find out if the pre-existing toe injury was ever disclosed to the insurance company. The bench has also stated that if the insurance firm was aware about the toe-injury then it should not have insured Sreesanth in the first place.
