AMC questions IRDAI over preferential treatment in Saif Ali Khan’s insurance case
Mumbai: The Association of Medical Consultants (AMC), Mumbai, has written to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) regarding alleged preferential treatment extended to actor Saif Ali Khan by an insurance provider.
The issue surfaced after a social media user, Nikhil Jha, shared a letter alleging that the insurance company approved ₹25 lakh for Khan’s treatment at Lilavati Hospital within hours, bypassing standard protocols, such as requiring an FIR copy in medicolegal cases. Jha further claimed that the final bill of ₹36 lakh, covering a four-day hospital stay and surgery, was approved swiftly.
The AMC, representing over 14,000 medical professionals across Mumbai and nearby regions, criticised the incident as a glaring example of inequality in healthcare insurance. They highlighted that high-profile individuals and corporate policyholders often benefit from higher cashless limits and faster approvals, while ordinary citizens face bureaucratic challenges and inadequate coverage.
In its letter, the AMC called for IRDAI to:
1. Investigate the Saif Ali Khan incident.
2. Ensure equal treatment for all policyholders.
3. Establish stricter guidelines to prevent preferential treatment.
4. Increase transparency in cashless treatment approvals to rebuild public trust.
The AMC also raised concerns over the disparity in reimbursement rates offered by insurance companies, noting that smaller hospitals and nursing homes are often paid less than large corporate hospitals, jeopardising the sustainability of smaller healthcare providers.
Jha echoed these concerns on social media, accusing the insurer of applying stricter rules for ordinary citizens while offering preferential treatment to celebrities. He urged the IRDAI to clarify why Niva Bupa allegedly handled this case differently.
Saif Ali Khan was hospitalised at Lilavati Hospital following multiple stab injuries during a robbery at his Bandra residence on January 16. He underwent surgery and was discharged after five days.
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Kannada actress Ranya Rao, jeweller linked to Rs 40 cr gold smuggling: DRI
Bengaluru, Apr 03 (PTI): The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said jeweller Sahil Sakariya Jain played a key role in assisting Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya, also known as Ranya Rao, in disposing of 49.6 kg of smuggled gold worth ₹40.14 crore.
According to the DRI’s remand note, Jain not only helped facilitate the illegal transaction but also abetted Ranya in hawala money transfers linked to the smuggling operation.
Jain, a jeweller by profession, was arrested on March 26 for assisting Ranya in the gold smuggling case.
He has been remanded to judicial custody until April 7.
Jain not only helped Ranya in allegedly disposing of the gold but also appeared to have facilitated Hawala money transactions.
"It appears that he assisted and abetted Accused No. 1 in disposing of approximately 49.6 kg of gold worth ₹40,13,59,374. He has also admitted to aiding A1 in transferring Hawala money amounting to around ₹38,39,97,000 to Dubai and ₹1,73,61,787 to A1 in Bengaluru," the DRI stated.
The agency further noted that the unaccounted cash of ₹2.67 crore seized from Ranya’s residence on March 4, as per the ‘Mahazar’ , was likely Hawala money she received as profit from purchasing gold in Dubai and selling it in Bengaluru.
The DRI added that Jain admitted to receiving a commission of ₹55,000 for each transaction.
"The voluminous evidence extracted from two mobile phones and a laptop belonging to Sahil Sakariya Jain further establishes his role in the smuggling of large quantities of gold into India by A1 ," the DRI stated.
According to the agency, in January 2025, Jain helped Ranya dispose of 14.568 kg of gold worth ₹11.56 crore and facilitated the transfer of ₹11.01 crore in Hawala transactions to Dubai.
Additionally, he admitted to transferring ₹55 lakh in Bengaluru.
In February, Jain allegedly assisted Ranya in disposing of 13.433 kg of gold worth ₹11.81 crore.
During the same month, he helped transfer ₹11.25 crore in Hawala funds to Dubai and ₹55.81 lakh to Ranya in Bengaluru.
Ranya, the stepdaughter of a DGP-rank officer in Karnataka, was arrested on March 3, shortly after returning from Dubai at Kempegowda International Airport.
The DRI officials seized 14.7 kg of gold from her possession.
