The Madras High Court on Tuesday declined to grant interim relief to former DMK minister Mahesh in a cheating case registered by the Chennai Central Crime Branch.
Police have alleged that money running into crores was collected from private school managements across Tamil Nadu by promising to secure permanent recognition and other statutory approvals. The case has been registered against Arasakumar, DMK communications wing deputy head and president of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, among others.
In the same case, police arrested Arasakumar and association treasurer Muthukumar. Searches were also conducted at the residences and offices linked to Mahesh and his relatives, after which he was summoned and questioned.
Mahesh moved the High Court seeking to quash the FIR. When the petition came up before Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, the State submitted that the investigation was under way.
The judge said no interim order could be granted, noting that a direction such as “do not arrest” in a quash petition could invite questions from the Supreme Court. The court indicated that Mahesh could instead approach for anticipatory bail, and directed the police to file their response to his petition.
