Chennai, Oct 28:
Former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, who was arrested in an alleged corruption case involving private school approvals, has filed a bail petition before the Special Court for cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act in Chennai. The petition is expected to come up for hearing on Thursday.
Mahesh was arrested by the Chennai Central Crime Branch on October 26 after the Madras High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea. He was subsequently produced before the special court and remanded to judicial custody until November 6. He is currently lodged in Puzhal Central Prison.
The case stems from a complaint by a private schools’ association alleging that more than Rs 100 crore was collected from private school managements on the promise of securing permanent recognition, planning clearances and other statutory approvals during the previous DMK regime, when Mahesh was the School Education Minister.
The Central Crime Branch has registered a case against Mahesh and others in connection with the alleged irregularities. DMK functionary and former legislator B.T. Arasakumar and others were also named in the case. Former MLA Muthukumar, who is alleged to be a key figure in the case, is being sought by the police.
The police are planning to seek his custody for further questioning based on documents seized during searches at locations linked to him. The allegations against Anbil Mahesh remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.