CHENNAI: The Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department of the Tamil Nadu Police on Saturday arrested a lawyer practising in the Kancheepuram district courts for allegedly scamming via accident claims. The arrested lawyer was identified as Padmanabhan.

According to the police sources, Padmanabhan ran a racket in collusion with hospital staff and traffic police. The lawyer produced impersonators before the court, claiming them to be accident victims or their family members and then secured compensation.

According to sources, the Madras High Court had received several complaints from representatives of insurance companies against the lawyer, after which a directive was issued. Inquiries revealed that Padmanabhan had been involved in such practices for the past four years.

After a preliminary enquiry, the court directed that the case be transferred to CB-CID for a detailed probe, and a case was registered.

The investigators found Padmnabhan to have aided impersonation, forged documents submission, and misappropriation of compensation in motor accident cases.

Further investigation is under way to identify others involved in the fraud.