Chennai
oi-Prakash KL
The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has booked former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi under the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with an alleged scam involving money collected from private schools on the promise of securing government approvals.
The case was registered after investigators examined witness statements, documents and electronic evidence gathered during the probe.
Former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act by CCB for allegedly collecting crores from 177 private schools for government approvals. Searches were conducted at his premises as part of the probe.
The CCB on Wednesday morning carried out simultaneous searches at four premises linked to Poyyamozhi in Chennai and Tiruchy. Searches were also conducted at two premises linked to his aide Valadi Karthik in the two cities.
The searches are part of the investigation into the alleged financial transactions and the suspected links between the accused and officials in the government departments concerned.
In Tiruchy, CCB officials began searching Poyyamozhi’s residence in Thennur Anna Nagar at around 7.30 am. A number of DMK workers gathered outside the house as the operation continued.
The case stems from a complaint filed by Elangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu. The complaint alleged that private school managements had been cheated after paying money to secure permanent recognition, approval for upgrading schools, DTCP clearances and other government permissions.
The CCB had arrested B T Arasakumar, 59, of Saligramam, on June 27 in connection with the case. He was later detained under the Goondas Act. Two more people have since been arrested.
As part of the investigation, police have questioned more than 250 people, including officials from the School Education Department, and seized government records.
The preliminary probe found that several crores of rupees were allegedly collected from 177 private schools. Investigators have also identified and frozen 20 bank accounts linked to Arasakumar and his family, along with 29 accounts connected to another accused, Muthukumaran.
Earlier searches were carried out at the residences and offices of the accused, school premises and the Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) campus.
Trichy, Tamil Nadu: Central Crime Branch police conduct raids at the residence of former Minister Anbil Mahesh in connection with allegations that bribes were received for granting permission to private schools pic.twitter.com/k7oMp1rBS1
— IANS (@ians_india) September 16, 2026
Meanwhile, DMK president MK Stalin condemned the searches against Poyyamozhi, alleging that the action was politically motivated.
Stalin accused the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government of using investigative agencies to divert attention from problems facing the state. He also alleged that the government was failing to address public concerns while the Chief Minister was away in London for film-related activities.
In a post on X, the former Tamil Nadu CM said, “We will legally confront this blatant political vendetta action. Conducting raids on the opposition cannot quell the people’s anger. This government will soon realize that false accusations will not stand before the law!”
