Chennai, Oct 28:
Minister Aadhav Arjuna on Tuesday rejected the DMK’s charge that the arrest of former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was politically motivated, asserting that the action was part of an investigation into alleged corruption during the previous government’s tenure.
Responding to criticism from DMK leaders, Aadhav Arjuna alleged that irregularities had occurred in the highways department and in the process of granting certificates and approvals to private schools under the previous DMK regime. He claimed that departments with large budgetary allocations had been targeted for collections.
He also alleged that B T Arasakumar, who joined the DMK from the BJP, had been given a position and used as a collection agent, with the money allegedly reaching ministers and their relatives. Aadhav Arjuna said the allegations would be established in court.
The minister said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay wanted the facts to be placed before the public and denied that the government was using arrests to settle political scores. “There is no need to take action to target anyone,” he said, adding that Anbil Mahesh’s arrest could not be described as political vendetta.
Anbil Mahesh was arrested by the Chennai Central Crime Branch on Monday after the Madras High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. He was subsequently remanded to judicial custody until November 6 in connection with an alleged Rs 100-crore scam involving payments from private school managements for government recognition and other statutory clearances.
The DMK has condemned the arrest, alleging political vendetta and maintaining that the former minister had cooperated with the investigation. The allegations against him remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.