Former DMK MLA caught for cheating aged couple

A former MLA who tried to escape with 25 sovereigns of gold jewels and some cash from a Ashok Nagar house, which he entered as an " Income Tax officer," was caught and handed over to the police. The ex-MLA, Ravi Shankar, was later arrested and a hunt launched for his brother K Ilanchezhian. 

Ravi Shankar told the police he had been the DMK MLA of Vilathikulam constituency in Tuticorin district. 

The police said Ravi Shankar and Ilanchezhian came to the house of Venkat Ragavan (83), a retired CPWD official, on Murthy Street near Ayodhya Mandapam around 12.15 pm. Ragavan, his wife Vedha Valli (77) and their daughter-in-law Radha (25) were present. They said they were I-T officers and presented identity cards. Then they searched the house and found 25 sovereigns of gold jewellery and Rs 20,000 in cash. Ilanchezhian placed the valuables inside his bag and told Ragavan he could collect them after submitting the required documents. 

"Ilanchezhian then started running out and didn't respond to Radha, who sought a few more details. Their suspicions aroused, Radha and Vedha Valli cornered Ravisankar, who was walking slowly. Radha held him firmly from behind and cried out for help. Ilanchezhian sped away on his bike while some neighbours and workers of a nearby mechanic shop rushed there and nabbed Ravisankar. They thrashed him before taking him to the police station," a police officer said. 

"We are now questioning Ravisankar to unravel at least 10 more cases of impersonation reported in the city in the recent past. Special teams have been formed to nab Ilanchezhian," south Chennai joint commissioner of police P Shakthivelu told TOI. 

Police sources said Ravisankar, fighting on a DMK ticket, defeated MDMK chief Vaiko in the 1996 assembly elections before shifting allegiance to the AIADMK in early 2000. He was nabbed by the airport police while trying to smuggle drugs in 2003. While being taken to a court near Madurai in 2004, he escaped from the police and a non-bailable warrant is still pending against him. However, he managed to survive with his family at a separate house in Indira Nagar near Porur.