Chennai, Sept 16:
The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Chennai Police on Wednesday conducted searches at six locations linked to former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi in connection with an alleged Rs 100-crore private school recognition fraud case.
The searches included his residence at Thennur Anna Nagar in Tiruchy and an apartment on Greenways Road in Chennai.
A five-member CCB team began the search at Anbil Mahesh’s Tiruchy residence around 7.30 am, with police personnel deployed outside. Simultaneous searches were conducted at other locations in Chennai and Tiruchy allegedly linked to the former minister.
Police also went to his office in T Nagar, Chennai, but found it locked. The CCB was reportedly waiting outside and considering breaking open the lock to conduct the search.
The searches are aimed at collecting documentary and digital evidence and examining links between those already arrested in the case and others whose premises are being searched.
The case relates to allegations that large sums were collected from private school managements by promising to secure government approvals and clearances, including recognition, permanent recognition, school upgradation and building-related approvals.
Police allege that more than Rs 100 crore was collected from several school managements through the network under investigation.
The probe gained momentum following the June arrest of B T Arasakumar by the CCB. According to police, Arasakumar allegedly collected money from private schools claiming that he could use his political and official contacts to obtain the required approvals.
He is alleged to have operated through an unregistered body called the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association.
The Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, which police allege was used by Arasakumar, was launched in December 2024. Several private school associations had come together to form the body.
Anbil Mahesh, who was then the School Education Minister, and senior officials of the School Education Department had attended the launch. The CCB is examining whether the association’s activities and the alleged collection of money had any connection with approvals promised to private schools.
However, the police allegations concerning the Rs 100-crore collection relate to the broader network under investigation and do not by themselves establish that the entire amount was personally received by Anbil Mahesh. His role, if any, is part of the ongoing investigation.
DMK president and former Chief Minister M K Stalin strongly criticised the searches and alleged that the action was intended to divert public attention from issues facing the State.
Stalin referred to several issues, including protests over power cuts, the Pattinapakkam fishermen’s agitation, the protest by relatives of people missing in Nepal outside the Secretariat, alleged Aavin milk shortage, the Ramanathapuram double murder and the killing of a government bus driver during a Vinayagar Chaturthi procession in Chennai.
He also referred to the alleged harassment of a woman police personnel in Ayanavaram involving a TVK functionary and criticised Chief Minister Vijay over his London visit.
Stalin alleged that the TVK government had ordered the raid as an act of political revenge. He said the DMK would face the matter legally and asserted that false allegations would not stand before the law.
Senior DMK leader and former minister K N Nehru also criticised the searches, alleging that raids were being conducted with the intention of intimidating DMK leaders.