Cuttack, Dec 4: Cuttack police have arrested a man accused of impersonating a lawyer and practicing in courts using a forged enrolment number. The accused, identified as Subash Mahapatra, was taken into custody by Lalbag police following directions from the Orissa High Court.

According to officials, the arrest was made after the Registrar (Judicial) of the High Court submitted a formal report highlighting irregularities in Mahapatra’s credentials. Acting on this information, police initiated an investigation that confirmed he had been presenting himself as a licensed advocate despite lacking valid authorisation.

Investigators revealed that Mahapatra had allegedly used the fake enrolment number to appear in multiple cases before the High Court and other commissions. He is said to have filed petitions and represented several individuals, misleading clients and authorities by projecting himself as a genuine lawyer.

Police sources stated that the accused had been active for some time, exploiting loopholes in verification processes. His activities came to light only after discrepancies were noticed in official records, prompting the High Court to intervene.

Legal experts have described the incident as a serious breach of trust, warning that such impersonation undermines the credibility of the judicial system. Authorities emphasised that strict action will be taken to prevent similar cases in the future, including tighter checks on enrolment numbers and professional credentials.