Police on Wednesday executed simultaneous searches at four properties in Chennai and Trichy linked to ex‑minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, and two sites tied to his aide, as the Central Crime Branch carried out the operation. The raids began at 10:15 a.m. local time and extended into the afternoon.
The probe follows a complaint from Ilangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools, who alleged that the minister’s office collected money from school administrators in exchange for securing permanent recognition and permissions. He claims the money was used to influence approvals for 177 private schools.
Investigators say they have identified 177 private schools that allegedly paid bribe money, amounting to roughly ₹100 crore, and have frozen bank accounts linked to the transactions while seizing digital records. Digital evidence includes emails, transaction logs, and phone calls that trace the flow of funds.
More than 250 individuals, including school officials and bureaucrats, have been interrogated, and documents from the Department of School Education were seized. The inquiry also targeted 10 former education department officers, 5 of whom have been detained.
DMK chief MK Stalin condemned the raids as a political vendetta, tweeting that the state is being distracted from real issues such as power cuts and law‑and‑order challenges. He added that the raids would be fought legally.
The case now moves to the district court for filing of charges, with a hearing scheduled for July 20, 2026, and the Central Bureau of Investigation may join the probe if the court orders further investigation.