Man arrested for murdering wife, parents in ₹50-crore insurance scam; 4th wife’s alert cracks case

By Barnabas Karunagari | October 1, 2025

Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA: A chilling case of serial killings for insurance money has been unearthed in western Uttar Pradesh with the arrest of a 37-year-old Meerut resident, Vishal Singhal, who allegedly murdered his first wife, mother, and father to claim policies worth nearly ₹50 crore. The case came to light after his fourth wife approached police fearing she was next in line.

According to the police, Singhal, a resident of Gangangar in Meerut, systematically staged the deaths of close family members since 2017, each time ensuring that the victims were covered under multiple high-value insurance policies. He then filed claims citing road accidents or sudden medical emergencies. Police said the accused had already pocketed over ₹1.55 crore from these payouts and was in the process of filing additional claims when he was arrested by Hapur Police last week.

Trail of deaths since 2017

Police records reveal a disturbing pattern:

2017: Singhal’s mother, Prabha Devi, allegedly died in a road accident. He later claimed insurance worth ₹25 lakh.

2022: His first wife, Ekta, died under suspicious circumstances at a private hospital in Meerut. Police said she was admitted for minor health issues but was suddenly discharged and died of a “heart attack” a day later. Vishal allegedly claimed about ₹80 lakh.

2024: His father, Mukesh Chand Singhal, a small photo studio owner, was reported to have been hit by an unidentified vehicle while returning from Garhmukteshwar. Though an FIR was registered, the vehicle was never traced and the case was closed with a final report. Investigators later found that Mukesh had been insured under 64 separate policies worth ₹50 crore. Shortly after his death, Vishal cleared loans on four vehicles, including a Toyota Legender and a Royal Enfield, using insurance money.

Police suspect suffocation or poisoning, rather than accidents, as the likely cause of deaths. Both Ekta and Mukesh died at the same Meerut-based private hospital, which is now under scrutiny for possible collusion.

Fourth wife blows the whistle

The scam began unraveling after Vishal’s fourth wife, Shreya, noticed disturbing patterns. He repeatedly pressured her into signing several high-value insurance policies. Alarmed by reports of a multi-state insurance fraud being probed in Sambhal, she compared details and found similarities with her husband’s conduct.

“When I realised his father had confided that he feared for his life, and later died, I panicked. Vishal was forcing me to sign policies too. I fled to my parents’ home and went to the police,” Shreya told investigators.

When her complaints were dismissed by local police in Meerut, she approached Sambhal Police, who were already probing a ₹100-crore insurance mafia operating across 11 states. Vishal’s case soon emerged in their database of flagged claims.

Insurance mafia links

Sambhal Additional SP (South) Anukriti Sharma said, “The modus operandi in Vishal’s case matched what we were already investigating — multiple policies, staged accidents, and sudden deaths. Insurance companies had already red-flagged his claims and raised alarms with Hapur Police since August 2024.”

Earlier this year, Sambhal Police had arrested 15 people in connection with four staged murders linked to the same network. Vishal’s case appears to be part of this larger fraud.

Hospital under lens

Police suspect that Navjeevan Hospital in Meerut played a key role in certifying suspicious deaths. Mukesh’s medical file showed his body “without a scratch,” despite claims of a severe accident. Similarly, Ekta’s hospitalisation and sudden discharge before her death raised eyebrows. Investigators are now probing possible collusion by hospital staff.

Accomplices and investigation

Police said Vishal’s main associate, identified as Satish, has also been detained, while at least four others, including medical staff, remain wanted. Investigators are also examining Singhal’s finances, as his family’s declared income did not justify premium payments of nearly ₹30 lakh annually.

Hapur SP Kunwar Gyananjay Singh confirmed that charges of murder, conspiracy, and destruction of evidence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) will be added to the FIR. “We initially registered cheating and forgery based on insurance discrepancies. Now, with court permission, we have reopened closed cases and will pursue murder charges,” he said.

Wider crackdown

Police said the case highlights how organised “insurance mafias” are exploiting loopholes in policy verification. “Such scams are particularly active in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, but we have detected similar cases in other states as well. Vishal’s arrest is part of our larger crackdown on what is turning into a nationwide menace,” said ASP Sharma.

Unanswered questions

While police have established Vishal’s role in the deaths of his mother, father, and first wife, there is still no clarity on the fate of his second and third wives, who are said to have left him. Investigators fear they too may have been potential targets.

For now, Vishal Singhal is in custody, facing charges of triple murder, criminal conspiracy, and large-scale insurance fraud — a case that exposes the dark underbelly of organised financial crime in India.