Police on Wednesday arrested three persons for cheating a large number of people to the tune of Rs.1.5 crore, impersonating as Government officials.

According to police, Shankararaja, resident of Eachanari, posed himself as a Government official and collected money from people for getting allotments in the tenements constructed by Slum Clearance Board.

Following complaints from various quarters, the crime branch personnel conducted investigation and arrested Shankararaja and two of his accomplices Mehaboob Ali and Sudhagar on Tuesday night.

Investigation revealed that Shankararaja has taken money from 90 people, ranging from Rs.50,000 to Rs. 5 lakh, (amounting to Rs.1.5 crore).

The accused said to have confessed that he wanted to lead a luxurious life. It is learnt that he had built a huge house in the city and also helped his father in law build a house, apart from helping a relative to set up a water service centre with the money.