Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Mumbai Tribunal Awards ₹13.35 Crore to Families of HUL Employees
A tribunal in Mumbai decided that two families should receive money after their husbands died in a road crash.
The accident happened in 2018 when a tanker allegedly crossed onto the wrong side of the road.
The tanker collided head-on with the car carrying the two Hindustan Unilever employees.
One family was awarded about ₹8.93 crore, and the other was awarded about ₹4.43 crore.
The insurance company must pay these amounts.
It must also add 7.5% interest each year from when the families filed their claims.
The insurer argued that some interest should be removed because the cases took time.
The tribunal rejected that argument because it found no specific order or proof of deliberate delay.
Mumbai MACT awarded ₹8,92,74,480 and ₹4,42,96,600 to the families of two Hindustan Unilever employees killed in a 2018 crash.
The tribunal said a tanker allegedly driven by Vaibhav Bhoyate at excessive speed crossed onto the wrong side and hit their Swift Dzire.
The insurance company was ordered to pay the full awards with 7.5% annual interest from the dates the claims were filed in 2018.
The tribunal rejected the insurer’s request to exclude a period of interest because of alleged delays in witness examination.
The deceased employees, Girish Barve and Rakesh Wadalkar, had reported annual incomes of ₹94,70,610 and ₹42,26,672, respectively.
- Who
- The families of Hindustan Unilever employees Girish Barve and Rakesh Wadalkar; the insurance company and tanker driver Vaibhav Bhoyate were involved in the cases.
- What
- The Mumbai Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded a combined ₹13,35,71,080 in compensation, plus 7.5% annual interest, to the two families.
- When
- The accident occurred in 2018; the tribunal orders were reported on August 24, 2026.
- Where
- The cases were decided by the Mumbai MACT; the accident was registered at Khed police station.
- Why
- The tribunal attributed the collision to alleged rash and negligent tanker driving, including excessive speed and crossing onto the wrong side of the road.
Tribunal and Claimants
Insurance Company
Cause of the accident
Tribunal and Claimants
The claim details alleged that tanker driver Vaibhav Bhoyate drove rashly and negligently, at excessive speed, crossed onto the wrong side, and hit the car.
Insurance Company
The article does not provide a separate insurance-company position disputing the alleged driving conduct.
Interest calculation
Tribunal and Claimants
The tribunal held that the families were entitled to statutory compensatory interest from the filing of their claims because no specific order suspended interest.
Insurance Company
The insurer asked that a period be excluded from the interest calculation, arguing that the applicants delayed examining witnesses after issues were framed.
Amount payable
Tribunal and Claimants
The tribunal directed the insurer to pay the entire compensation awards along with 7.5% annual interest.
Insurance Company
The insurer challenged the interest calculation, but the tribunal rejected that plea.
- Total compensation
- ₹13,35,71,080 combined
- First award
- ₹8,92,74,480 to Gayatri Barve’s family
- Second award
- ₹4,42,96,600 to Sonali Wadalkar’s family
- Interest
- 7.5% per year from the dates of the respective claims filed in 2018
- Deceased employees
- Girish Barve and Rakesh Wadalkar
- Reported annual incomes
- ₹94,70,610 for Girish Barve and ₹42,26,672 for Rakesh Wadalkar
- Tribunal member
- Shashikant Eknathrao Bangar