Pay Rs 2.50 cr to deceased Army officer's kin, insurance firm told

A District and Sessions Court in Dharamsala has ordered a compensation of Rs 2.50 crore to the family of a former Army officer, Lt Col Vinay Sharma, who lost his life in a road accident in 2021.

The court directed the insurance company concerned to pay the compensation amount within one month, along with 7.5% annual interest. The amount will be distributed among the deceased officer’s wife, son and other legal heirs.

The petition had been filed by Nancy Vinay, wife of the deceased, a resident of Mohal Suggar, Palampur, presently living in Dharamsala.

On March 26, 2021, Vinay Sharma was returning home from Kangra when, near Bari Haar, a truck coming from the opposite direction at a high speed collided with his car. The impact was severe and Sharma died on the spot.

Vinay Sharma had retired from the Indian Army in 2020 as a Lieutenant Colonel and was employed at the time as a Senior Manager with the Amazon Development Centre, Hyderabad.

In its verdict, the court specified that Rs 1 crore each will be given to the deceased’s wife and son, while Rs 50 lakh will go to another legal heir. Any interim compensation already paid will be adjusted against the total amount.