Former Tamil Nadu Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi arrested in connection with private schools scam

Arrest and Legal Action

Former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was arrested on Monday by the Chennai Central Crime Branch in connection with a 100 crore rupee scam involving the alleged collection of money from private school managements. The arrest by the police unit's Entrustment Document Fraud wing followed the Madras High Court's dismissal of his anticipatory bail petition earlier in the day. Justice V Lakshminarayanan denied the pre-arrest bail after having reserved orders on October 16, while the state government opposed the plea by describing the case as financial terrorism. Police picked up Mahesh from Aminjikarai and brought him to the Greater Chennai Police Commissionerate, stating he would be produced before a court following interrogation.

Allegations and Co-Accused

Police state that Mahesh is accused of collecting money from over one thousand private school managements in the guise of a party fund during his tenure as School Education Minister from 2021 to 2026, in exchange for permanent recognition and statutory clearances. Three co-accused identified as B T Arasakumar, Suresh, and Raja have already been arrested in the cheating case, which was registered over allegations of collecting huge sums of money by promising government recognition and approvals. Following the case registration, police conducted extensive searches at residential and office premises belonging to Mahesh and his aides across Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, and Kallakurichi, seizing key documents and electronic devices. The FIR includes charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act following a complaint from the former General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, and the Enforcement Directorate has also registered an enforcement case information report under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Reactions and Defense

Reacting to his arrest, Mahesh claimed he was being targeted for political reasons and that he had fully cooperated with the investigation, including spending seven to eight hours being questioned on September 18. DMK president M K Stalin strongly condemned the arrest, accusing the ruling TVK government of acting with a political vendetta to divert public attention from the state's deteriorating law and order situation and administrative breakdown, adding that Mahesh would face the charges legally. Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan hit out at the DMK for exhibiting double standards, stating that if Mahesh had not committed any crime, he should go to court, prove his innocence, and come out clean instead of claiming no crime took place.

Context

High-profile corruption investigations involving former government ministers frequently draw intense political reactions from both ruling and opposition parties in India. Cases of this scale often involve multi-agency probes by state crime branches alongside financial watchdogs like the Enforcement Directorate. Legal proceedings typically move through anticipatory bail hearings in high courts before proceeding to trial and formal court appearances.