Former Tamil Nadu minister held in Rs 100-crore private school approval scam

Chennai police on Monday arrested Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister, in connection with an alleged Rs 100-crore private school approval case. 

As per the reports, he has been arrested from an apartment in Aminjikarai, Chennai, following the Madras High Court's dismissal of his anticipatory bail petition.

Justice V Lakshminarayanan of the Madras High Court had rejected the pre-arrest bail plea filed by Anbil Mahesh, who is being investigated by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Greater Chennai Police.

The case relates to allegations that money was collected from private school managements in the name of party funds by promising government approvals, permanent recognition and permission to upgrade schools during the previous DMK regime, when Anbil Mahesh was the School Education Minister.

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The investigation has also examined the alleged involvement of former DMK spokesperson BT Arasakumar and former MLA Muthukumar. Police suspect that the two allegedly collected money from school managements by claiming to have political influence and access to the School Education Department.

According to a complaint filed by DC Ilangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu, school managements were allegedly promised permanent recognition, approval for school upgradation, clearances from the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) and other government permissions in return for payments.

However, several complainants alleged that the promised approvals were not secured and the money was not returned.

Police have so far examined allegations involving 177 private schools that reportedly paid money in connection with the promised approvals.

Investigators are also probing whether the alleged collections extended to more institutions across Tamil Nadu.

Police sources have estimated that the total amount involved could exceed Rs 100 crore.