Hartford, CT – A West Hartford man was recently arrested and charged with illegally collecting Workers’ Compensation benefits from one company while working for his own business and also failing to provide Workers’ Compensation coverage for employees of that business.
MANINDER ARORA, age 47, of 643 Flatbush Avenue, West Hartford, was charged with one count each of Workers’ Compensation Fraud, Failure to Carry Workers’ Compensation Insurance, and Criminal Attempt to Commit Larceny in the Second Degree. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 35 years of incarceration if convicted of all counts.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Arora collected more than $11,600 in Workers’ Compensation benefits as a result of a work-related injury he reported suffering while employed by Peapod Home Delivery of the Stop & Shop Supermarkets.
The investigation found that Arora owns five Liberty Tax Services franchises and was working for his business while collecting Workers’ Compensation benefits for the reported injury, the warrant states.
The investigation further determined that Arora had failed to provide Workers’ Compensation insurance coverage for employees of his tax services business as required by law, the warrant alleges.
Arora was arraigned today at Hartford Superior Court, G.A. No. 14 where bond was set at $10,000 and he was ordered to turn in his passport. His next scheduled court date is July 16, 2014. The charges are merely allegations and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Bureau in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney.
Source: CT CSAO