The SRMC police have registered a case against a man who posed as an advocate and allegedly defrauded a family in Porur of over ₹35 lakh.

According to the police, Sivakumar of Mangalam Nagar, Porur, approached Venkatacharya, who claimed to be an advocate, seeking legal assistance in evicting a defaulting tenant, Venkatesan, from the ground floor of his house. On Venkatacharya’s advice, Sivakumar and his family confronted the tenant and demand rent arrears, and recorded the video of the conversation, which was later forwarded to Venkatacharya. The tenant’s six-year-old child was also seen in the video.

Later, Venkatacharya informed Sivakumar over the phone that the tenant had filed civil and criminal cases against him, and sought ₹4 lakh to “settle” the cases. Fearing legal action, Sivakumar handed over the money to his associate, Gnanasekaran. Subsequently, Venkatacharya again contacted Sivakumar, and this time told him that the tenant had filed a POCSO case also against him, and sought another ₹10 lakh.

Over time, the accused allegedly extorted ₹35 lakh from Sivakumar and his family. Eventually, the family eventually approached Avadi City Police Commissioner K. Shankar and lodged a formal complaint. The police launched a probe and found that the tenant had filed no legal case, but had colluded with the other accused to defraud the family.

The police arrested Gnanasekaran, who was also part of the crime. A search is on to trace Venkatacharya and his accomplices.