# No proof of alcohol link, insurer told to pay Rs 6 lakh claim 2026-08-08T14:06:15+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Chandigarh district consumer disputes redressal commission has directed Star Health and Allied Insurance to pay Rs 6 lakh plus 9% annual interest to the family of a deceased policyholder whose liver disease claim was rejected. The insurer had cited an exclusion for alcoholism, but failed to prove that the policyholder’s liver cirrhosis was solely caused by alcohol consumption. The policyholder, Charanjit Singh, was covered since July 2020 and diagnosed with liver malignancy in March 2022. He died of cardiac arrest in November 2022. PGIMER, Chandigarh, had clarified that his alcohol intake was minimal and his last drink was seven years before treatment. The commission held the repudiation amounted to deficiency in service and unfair trade practice. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com Tags: Chandigarh, claim repudiation, consumer forum, health insurance, liver disease, Star Health Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/no-proof-of-alcohol-link-insurer-told-to-pay-rs-6-lakh-claim/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/no-proof-of-alcohol-link-insurer-told-to-pay-rs-6-lakh-claim/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.