KANHANGAD: A fraudster who deceived police by claiming to be a judge was arrested on Thursday. Shamnath Shaukat (43) of Thonnakkal village was arrested in the case.

Last night, the Hosadurga police received a call from a court judge in Pathanamthitta. The judge demanded that the police reach him immediately and transfer him to a lodge as his car broke down in the middle of the road.

The police rushed to the spot and shifted him to a lodge in Puthiyakotta. However, when exchanging social pleasantries, the man who claimed to be a judge made a faux pas and said he was a DySP DCRB. The police became suspicious and searched the bag of the man when the truth popped out.

Shamnath Shaukat is an accused in 19 criminal cases in Thiruvananthapuram city. DYSP P. Balakrishnan Nair said that he was being interrogated. The accused will be produced in court on Thursday.