CHENNAI:
Former DMK MLA Muthukumar, an accused in the alleged private school approvals bribery case, surrendered before a court following the rejection of his anticipatory bail plea by the Supreme Court.
The case involves allegations that money was collected from private school managements by promising permanent recognition, school upgrades and statutory approvals. Investigators have alleged that the collections could amount to around ₹400 crore, though the exact extent of the alleged transactions remains under investigation.
Muthukumar is among the accused linked to the alleged collection of money under the guise of a “party fund”. Former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was arrested on October 26 after the Madras High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. The court had cited the need for custodial interrogation to trace the alleged money trail and establish the roles of those involved.
The Supreme Court on October 28 dismissed the anticipatory bail pleas of Muthukumar and another accused, S Dinesh, declining to interfere with the Madras High Court’s orders. The investigation is being conducted by the Greater Chennai Police Central Crime Branch, while the Enforcement Directorate is also probing the alleged money laundering angle.