Mumbai, Jun 12 (IANS): The country's largest public sector insurer, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has issued a public warning over the unauthorized use or misuse of its iconic logo by anybody.

According to its Twitter handle, the LIC has barred any websites, publishing houses or digital entities from publishing its logo without the prior permission.

The 65-year-old LIC, which is soon going for its IPO, has warned stringent legal or civil action against any person found misusing its official logo, in a post on Friday.

The simple but logo consists of a flame symbolizing 'life' with two shielding hands of 'life insurance' indicating its protection, with the Sanskrit legend below it - "Yogakshemam Vahmyaham", derived from the Bhagwad Gita, and the LIC headquarters at Nariman Point in south Mumbai is also named 'Yogakshema'.

The LIC warning on social media states: "LIC Public Alerts - Unauthorized use of LIC's Logo. LIC logos cannot be used in any website, publishing material and digital post. Strict legal action - civil and criminal - will be taken against such person."

Established in 1956, the LIC - which commands a staggering 68.90 percent market share in the country - plans to go in for an IPO around October this year, as announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech in last year.

Officering a huge portfolio of insurance schemes and short or long-term investment opportunities for the masses, sources in LIC say that even some unscrupulous agents, self-styled insurance advisors and outsiders have been found allegedly flaunting its logo illegally to lure gullible customers.