Chennai: As many as 177 complaints have been received in connection with an alleged fraud involving promises to secure permanent recognition and other approvals for private schools, the Chennai police informed the Madras High Court.
The case relates to allegations that money was collected from private school managements by promising permanent recognition, school upgradation, DTCP and CMDA approvals and other statutory clearances. The accused allegedly claimed that the approvals could be obtained using political and bureaucratic connections. Police have alleged that more than Rs 100 crore was collected from schools but the promised approvals were not secured and the money was not refunded.
The Central Crime Branch of the Greater Chennai Police registered a case following a complaint from DC Elangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu. The main accused, BT Arasakumar, was arrested and later detained under the Goondas Act.
Meanwhile, Muthukumar, treasurer of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association and a former DMK MLA, approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. When the matter came before Justice V Lakshminarayanan, the police said that the investigation was still under way and sought time to file their response to the bail petition.
Accepting the request, the judge granted time to the police to file their response and adjourned the hearing to September 10.