Former Tamil Nadu Minister Anbil Mahesh Arrested in Corruption Case

Former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was arrested on Monday by the Chennai Police Central Crime Branch. The arrest took place hours after the Madras High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition in connection with an alleged multi-crore private school bribery and corruption case spanning from 2021 to 2026.

Justice V. Lakshminarayanan rejected the bail plea after the prosecution argued that investigators had gathered sufficient material to demonstrate the former minister's involvement. According to the Chennai Central Crime Branch, custodial interrogation was necessary to trace the financial trail and locate an absconding co-accused, identified as Muthukumar.

The investigation centers on allegations that over 177 private school managements were pressured to pay money under the guise of a party fund. In exchange, organizers allegedly promised to secure official government approvals, including permanent recognition, school upgradations, building permissions, and Directorate of Town and Country Planning clearances.

The case originated from a complaint filed by D.C. Ilangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu. The initial inquiry focused on B.T. Arasakumar, president of the unregistered Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, and other office-bearers accused of collecting money from schools without fulfilling their promises. Arasakumar was arrested earlier in the investigation.

Investigators later expanded their probe to examine links between the private school association and the former minister. According to the Central Crime Branch, materials gathered during the inquiry indicated that money collected from school managements was channeled through associates and handed over directly to Poyyamozhi. Video footage and witness statements allegedly showed the former minister introducing key suspects at an association event in late 2024.

Poyyamozhi, a senior leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party and a close associate of former Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, has denied all allegations. His legal team maintained that he cooperated fully with law enforcement, submitted financial records, and that others had collected money by misusing his name. Alongside the police investigation, the Enforcement Directorate has initiated a separate money-laundering inquiry under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Following the arrest, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party accused the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government of utilizing investigative agencies to target political opponents. Meanwhile, Poyyamozhi's separate legal petition seeking to quash the police first information report remains pending before the Madras High Court, with further hearings scheduled.