Chennai: The police informed the Madras High Court that more than Rs 100 crore was allegedly collected from private school owners across Tamil Nadu by promising to secure permanent recognition and other statutory approvals.
The Central Crime Branch, Chennai, has registered a case against DMK media wing deputy vice-president and Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association president P.T. Arasakumar and other office-bearers, alleging they collected large sums from several private school managements and cheated them.
In the case, Arasakumar and the association treasurer Muthukumar were arrested. Muthukumar later moved the High Court seeking pre-arrest bail.
When the petition came up before Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan, the police said the accused claimed closeness to former School Education Minister Mahesh and carried out the alleged fraud. Following a public announcement inviting complaints from those who lost money in connection with school recognition, statements have been recorded and complaints have been received from 47 school managements so far.
Police further told the court that around 1,000 private schools were allegedly made to pay between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 50 lakh each, taking the total collection to over Rs 100 crore. The petitioner denied any link to the alleged irregularities, but the court dismissed the pre-arrest bail plea.
