IBBI Cancelled Surveyor Licence for Using Fake Qualification Certificate

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India examined a complaint alleging that a licensed Surveyor and Loss Assessor obtained and renewed his licence using a fake diploma certificate. Despite claiming initial ignorance and attributing the issue to third-party fraud, the surveyor admitted during the hearing that he was aware the certificate from Hewett Polytechnic College was not genuine. The Authority found that the surveyor continued to rely on the forged document during licence issuance in 2014 and renewals in 2019 and 2022, and failed to disclose its falsity even after obtaining a valid diploma later. This conduct was held to constitute misrepresentation and suppression of material facts in violation of statutory provisions. Considering the seriousness of the breach, the Authority cancelled the licence with immediate effect, rejected the pending renewal application, and allowed the surveyor to reapply after one year, treating it as a fresh application.

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India

Final Order in the matter of Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh, Insurance Surveyor and Loss
Assessor (SLA) (License No. IRDA/IND/SLA-85077)

Ref: IRDAI/INT/ORD/Misc/58/4/2026 Date: 30.04.2026 

1. Background

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (“the Authority”) was in receipt of a complaint dated 29th July 2025 stating that the Surveyor and Loss Assessor (SLA) obtained license bearing license no. IRDA/IND/SLA-85077 with a fake qualification certificate. In this regard, clarifications were sought via email and the surveyor responded vide email dated 08th August 2025. Upon examination of the response and documents submitted, it was observed that the issue pertained to eligibility criteria for grant and continuation of licence, warranting further regulatory scrutiny.

2. Show Cause Notice, Reply and Hearing

2.1. Upon examination of the responses submitted by the surveyor, the Authority issued the SCN on 04th February 2026. The surveyor submitted his written response vide letter dated 10th February 2026. A personal hearing in the matter was accorded to the surveyor and was held on 18th March 2026 before a panel of 2 Whole Time Members: Shri Deepak Sood, Member(Non-Life) and Shri Swaminathan Iyer, Member (Life).

2.2. On behalf of the Authority, Shri Sudipta Bhattacharya (Chief General Manager-Intermediaries (SLA & IR)); Smt. Shiksha Shaha (General Manager- Intermediaries (SLA & IR)); Shri Kurapaty Sridhar Rao (Dy. Gen. Manager- Intermediaries (SLA & IR)); Shri Chandan Singh (Manager- Intermediaries (SLA & IR)); Ms. Priya Yadav (Assistant Manager- Intermediaries (SLA & IR)); and Shri Rasure Ravindra Rajneesh (Assistant Manager- Intermediaries (SLA & IR)), were present during the said hearing.

3. Based on

3.1. The reply to the Show Cause Notice (SCN) dated 04th February 2026 and submissions made during the personal hearing held on 18th March 2026 at 2:30 PM, chaired by Member (Non-Life) and Member (Life), the Authority has examined the material available on record and proceeds to pass this Order.

4. Charges

Violation of Section 42D (3), Section 64UM(1)(a) of the Insurance Act, 1938 and Regulation 8(1)(a) of IRDAI (Surveyors and Loss Assessors) Regulations, 2015.

Brief description of the charge

The surveyor had obtained the SLA licence by submitting a fraudulent diploma certificate purportedly issued by Hewett Polytechnic College, thereby misrepresenting his educational qualification. It is further alleged that the said fake certificate continued to be relied upon not only at the time of initial application for Licence in 2014 but also during subsequent renewals in 2019 and 2022. The Notice charges that the surveyor failed to exercise due diligence in verifying the authenticity of the qualification submitted to the Authority. Such submission amounts to misrepresentation and suppression of material facts, in violation of the applicable regulatory provisions. The delayed submission of a valid diploma certificate from Monad University only in 2023, at the stage of modification application, is cited as indicative of the earlier deficiency. Accordingly, the conduct of the surveyor is alleged to be in breach of the provisions governing licensing of Surveyors and Loss Assessors, warranting regulatory action.

Submission of the Surveyor in brief

5. The Surveyor, submitted that, at the time of obtaining the licence, he had furnished a diploma certificate purportedly issued by Hewett Polytechnic College, which he believed to be valid, and contended that he had been unknowingly subjected to a fraudulent act by certain third-party intermediaries associated with the said institution. He further stated that, upon becoming aware of the issue, he took steps to regularize his qualification by pursuing and completing a diploma from Monad University in the year 2012. He obtained the diploma certificate in Mechanical Engineering from Monad University dated 01.09.2016. He submitted that the diploma certificate dated 01.11.2000 was not intentionally misrepresented and that there was no deliberate attempt to mislead the Authority. With regard to the applications made in 2014, 2019, and 2022, he contended that the same qualification details continued to be reflected without any mala fide intent. He further submitted that the submission of the Monad University diploma certificate at the time of modification application in 2023 was done in good faith to place on record his valid qualification. He emphasized that the delay in furnishing the updated qualification was not deliberate but occurred in the course of procedural developments. Accordingly, he requested that the matter be considered sympathetically, as there was no intentional submission of a fake certificate on his part.

6. Decision

The Surveyor categorically admitted during the personal hearing on 18th March 2026, that he was aware that the qualification certificate from Hewett Polytechnic College was not genuine. Notwithstanding such knowledge, the Surveyor continued to rely upon the said certificate at the time of application for licence in 2014 and also at the time of subsequent renewals in 2019 and 2022. The contention that a genuine diploma certificate from Monad University was not available at the relevant time cannot be accepted as a valid justification for submission and continued reliance on a document known to be invalid. It is a fundamental obligation on an applicant to furnish complete, true and correct information to the Authority, which has clearly not been complied with in the present case. The Authority further notes that even after obtaining a valid diploma qualification from Monad University, the Surveyor failed to disclose the falsity of the earlier certificate submitted. Such non-disclosure amounts to suppression of material facts and reflects a lack of due diligence, honesty, and integrity expected from a licensed Surveyor and Loss Assessor. The submission of valid certificate in 2023 does not absolve the Surveyor of the prior misconduct of relying on a forged document for nearly a decade. In view of the above, the Authority concludes that the Surveyor has knowingly submitted documents containing false material particulars and has suppressed material information, thereby violating the provisions of Section 42D(3) and Section 64UM(1)(a) of the Insurance Act, 1938, read with Regulation 8(1)(a) of the IRDAI (Surveyors and Loss Assessors) Regulations, 2015. Considering the gravity of the violations, which strike at the root of eligibility and undermine the trust and credibility of the regulatory framework, the Authority is of the considered view that stringent action is warranted in the matter.

6.1. Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred under the Insurance Act, 1938 (Act), the Authority hereby orders as under:

a. The licence of Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh (License No. IRDA/IND/SLA-85077) is cancelled with immediate effect as per Regulation 24(1) of IRDAI (Insurance Surveyors and Loss Assessors) Regulations, 2015.

b. The Surveyor in accordance with the Regulation 24(3) of IRDAI (Insurance Surveyors and Loss Assessors) Regulations, 2015 may submit an application for issuance of a surveyor license, after expiry of one year from the date of cancellation. Such application shall be treated as an application for grant of fresh licence.

c. The renewal application filed vide Unique Reference No.500054016 dated 10.07.2025 also stands rejected.

d. This Order is appealable under Section 110 of the Insurance Act, 1938. Accordingly, the Surveyor may prefer an appeal before the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) within a period of forty-five (45) days from the date of receipt of this Order, in accordance with the provisions of the said Act.

Date: 30.04.2026

Member (Non-Life)
Member (Life)