Meerut, Uttar Pradesh: In one of the most chilling financial crimes in recent memory, Vishal Singhal, a resident of Ganganagar, Meerut, has been arrested for allegedly murdering his mother, father, and first wife to fraudulently claim Rs 50 crore in insurance payouts.
Between 2017 and 2024, Vishal reportedly took out over 60 insurance policies in the names of close family members, all listing him as the sole beneficiary. He then staged their deaths as accidents, using fake documents, forged vehicle registrations, and manipulated hospital records to collect payouts.
According to police, the murderous scheme began in 2017 when Vishal allegedly killed his mother, Prabha Devi, during a motorcycle ride, making it appear as a road accident. This allowed him to successfully claim Rs 80 lakh in insurance.
In 2020, his first wife, Ekta Singhal, was reported to have died of a heart attack. However, a later post-mortem revealed signs of strangulation. Multiple policies in her name had already been encashed by Vishal.
After Ekta’s death, Vishal married three more times, continuing the insurance racket. His elaborate scam started to unravel when his fourth wife, Shreya, discovered suspicious documents linked to previous deaths and refused to sign new insurance policies Vishal was pressing her to take out.
Shreya reported her findings to the Sambhal police, who then coordinated with the Hapur police. On September 29, 2024, Vishal was arrested along with his alleged accomplice Satish Kumar on Modi Nagar Road. Satish had reportedly helped carry out the murders and arranged forged documents.
One of the most disturbing incidents occurred in 2024, when Vishal faked a road accident involving his father, Mukesh Chand, a local photographer. After Mukesh was hospitalized, Vishal allegedly strangled him to death in the hospital. Between 2018 and 2023, Vishal had secured 64 policies in his father’s name, with a claim value of Rs 39 crore. Two policies had already paid out Rs 50 lakh.
Police are now re-investigating previously closed cases, many of which were initially filed under minor accident sections of the IPC (such as 279 and 337). Senior officials have ordered fresh inquiries, citing major lapses in the original investigations.
Vishal’s crimes reveal a deeply disturbing pattern of premeditated murder for financial gain, masked behind paperwork and insurance claims. Authorities are now examining the roles of hospitals, insurance agents, and officials who may have missed or overlooked signs of foul play.
