K Ravishankar, former DMK MLA of Vilathikulam who had tried to cheat an officer in the guise of and IT officer had till now cheated 18 retired government officials across the State in a similar way after he jumped police custody in 2004.

Ravishankar confessed to the police during interrogations on Tuesday that he had cheated eight retired officials in Chennai and 10 others in suburban areas of Chennai, Vellore, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi and Madurai. Ravishankar’s wife Sridevi along with two of their children escaped from their house in Porur even as news spread about his arrest.

Ravishankar had been residing at Indira Nagar for the last one-and-half year, in Kattupakkam, Porur. He is a native of Vilathikulam, Tuticorin district. He had rented a house at Indira Nagar at Pusphavathi’s (78) house.

Pushpavathi who rented her house to Ravishankar said that the former MLA had informed her that he was doing stock market business in Madurai. He used to come to the house late in the nights and his family members never mixed with neighbors. Sridevi used to step out only once in a day to purchase vegetables, Pusphavathi told the police.

A bag was seized from Ravishankar’s house by police but he refused to reveal what was inside it. Three special teams have been formed to trace his brother Ilanchezhian and family members police said. Ravishankar had even defeated MDMK leader Vaiko in the 1996 polls as DMK candidate. He had joined AIADMK later but was expelled when his crime involvement was made public.