Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi is in police custody. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) swooped in Monday, hours after the Madras High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. Justice V Lakshminarayan dismissed the former minister's bid for protection, clearing the path for the arrest. This is no minor breach of trust. Investigators point to a massive 100-crore racket.
The scheme allegedly centered on selling government approvals to private educational institutions. Police identified 177 schools affected by the alleged fraud. The money, they say, flowed in exchange for promises of permanent recognition, upgradation, and planning approvals. Evidence includes digital material and recorded statements linking Mahesh to the collection and distribution of these illicit funds.
The investigation traces back to a complaint by Ilangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools. He alleged that BT Arasukumar, president of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, and other office-bearers collected membership fees while promising regulatory clearances. They failed to deliver. Now, the probe has expanded to implicate the former minister himself, who has invoked the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The arrest has ignited a political firestorm. The DMK has accused the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government of weaponizing investigative agencies against political opponents. Mahesh, a senior DMK leader, has firmly denied the allegations. He has separately approached the court to quash the FIR entirely.
Mahesh will appear before the CCB in the coming days. Police are expected to seek extended custody to pursue further interrogations. Meanwhile, the legal battle over the FIR's validity continues as the former minister fights to challenge the case's merit. The 177 schools remain at the center of this unfolding scandal.