Former Tamil Nadu minister Anbil Mahesh arrested in alleged Rs 100-crore school approval scam

Former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister and DMK leader Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was arrested by Chennai Police on Monday in connection with an alleged Rs 100-crore scam involving approvals for private schools.

He was reportedly arrested from an apartment in Aminjikarai, Chennai, after the Madras High Court rejected his anticipatory bail petition. Justice V Lakshminarayanan dismissed the pre-arrest bail plea as the Greater Chennai Police's Central Crime Branch (CCB) investigates the case.

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

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

The case was initiated following a complaint by DC Ilangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu. According to the complaint, school managements were allegedly promised permanent recognition, approval to upgrade schools, 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 they had paid 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 looking into whether the alleged collections involved more institutions across Tamil Nadu.

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

(With ANI inputs)