Enlarge image
Deadly bite: Cobras are dangerous venomous snakes (symbol image)
Photo: DB Anthony Childs / picture-alliance / dpa
A man in India is said to have faked his own death to steal five million dollars from his US life insurance.
The 54-year-old had a poor man who looked like him killed with a cobra as a "murder weapon," as reported by the Indian Express, citing the police.
The fraud was discovered after the life insurance company asked the local police to investigate.
People around the man therefore made contradicting statements.
The officers also followed calls from the 54-year-old and realized that he was still alive and had previously pretended to be his own nephew when identifying his alleged body in the hospital.
The man and four accomplices were arrested.
Life insurance had originally become skeptical because the man had tried four years earlier to fake his wife's death.
bbr / dpa