New Delhi: National Insurance Co Ltd has been directed by a consumer forum here to pay over Rs 5 lakh to a businesswoman for "arbitrarily" repudiating a theft claim and also initiate disciplinary action against the incompetent officer who supported or approved such illegal action.

The New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, presided by C K Chaturvedi, asked the insurance firm to pay Rs 5,07,160 to Delhi-based Veena Jain immediately.