Chennai: The police are on the look-out for an advocate who is suspected to have poisoned his two children, aged 13 and 11, to death at his Tamil Nadu housing board (TNHB) apartment in Maduravoyal about a week ago. The advocate, Ravi, practising at Poonamalee special court, was last seen on May 28 by the residents and his phone has been switched off since.

On Wednesday, neighbours informed the Maduravoyal cops about foul smell emanating from the locked house in 6th block, CMDA colony, after which the door was broken open.
The bodies of Ravi’s children – R. Ishwarya Priyadarshini and R. Jaya Krishna Prabhu - were found in the bedroom in a decomposed state, said a senior police officer. Police investigations revealed that Ravi separated from his wife Maheshwari (35), also an advocate, about a year ago. Maheshwari lived at Chidambaram while the children have been living with Ravi.

Investigations revealed that it was Priyadarshini’s birthday on May 26 and her mother had called to wish her. Subsequently, Ravi picked up an argument with his wife.“Ravi usually locks the children inside the apartment when he goes out. So, the neighbours, too, didn’t suspect anything,” said a police officer. The advocate is also alleged to be notoriously inconsistent with paying maintenance charges for apartment.

“He left his two-wheeler behind and went out in his car. We have informed his wife, Maheshwari, who is on way to the city from Chidambaram,” said a police officer. The Maduravoyal police moved the bodies of the children to government Kilpauk hospital for post-mortem. Three special teams have been formed to track down Ravi.