Aviva India CEO Summoned by Police in Religious Discrimination Case

The CEO of Aviva India, Asit Rath, has been summoned by Punjab police in a probe into religious discrimination allegations filed by a former employee. Aviva has refuted the claims, describing them as unsubstantiated. This case, filed under religious insult laws, adds to Aviva’s existing regulatory challenges in India.

Indian police have summoned Asit Rath, CEO of British insurance company Aviva’s Indian arm, in response to a former employee’s allegations of religious discrimination. The case originates from a complaint by ex-employee Gurbir Singh, a Sikh, who claims Aviva executives discriminated against him and made derogatory remarks about his religion. The investigation, led by police in Faridkot, Punjab, has also extended an inquiry to another senior Aviva official.

Aviva has publicly denied the accusations, stating that the claims are “factually incorrect” and emphasizing its commitment to policies ensuring fair treatment. The insurer’s spokesperson, based in the UK, added that Aviva India considers Singh's complaint to be meritless, describing it as legally unsubstantiated and stating that Aviva would refrain from further comment due to ongoing legal proceedings. Singh, who appeared for questioning, did not provide additional remarks as the investigation progresses.

The case was filed under Indian laws prohibiting religious insults with intent to offend, which could lead to jail time if proven. The summons adds to Aviva’s regulatory challenges, as it is also under tax authority scrutiny over allegedly illicit payments to insurance brokers—a claim it denies.

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Aviva India, a joint venture with Dabur Invest Corp, holds a 74% stake in its Indian operations after increasing its share from 49% in 2022, competing in a market dominated by LIC, India’s largest state-run insurance firm.