Chennai City Police’s Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested DMK leader and former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh in a case alleging large-scale bribery linked to approvals for private schools. Police said the case involves allegations of collecting more than Rs 100 crore from private school managements for permanent recognition and construction-related permissions.
The case began after a complaint filed by a person named Ilangovan at the Chennai Police Commissioner’s office, alleging irregularities in the process of granting approvals. During the probe, investigators claimed they found evidence that money was collected from private school administrators, and earlier arrests were made in connection with the alleged racket.
According to police, the president of a private schools association and DMK media wing deputy vice-president P.T. Arasakumar was arrested on June 27. Based on his statement, former MLA Muthukumaar and two others were also arrested. Investigators said they identified bribe payments involving administrators of 177 private schools and conducted searches at multiple locations, including homes, offices, school premises and the DPI campus, seizing documents and electronic devices.
Police said searches were also carried out at four locations linked to Mahesh in Chennai and Tiruchy, and at premises linked to his aide, Valadi Karthik, leading to the seizure of laptops and digital records. Mahesh appeared for questioning after being summoned and was interrogated for about eight hours.
After the Madras High Court rejected his plea for anticipatory bail, police arrested Mahesh from a flat in Aminjikarai and questioned him at the Commissioner’s office. He underwent a medical examination at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and was produced before a special court under anti-corruption laws, which remanded him to judicial custody until November 6. He was lodged at Puzhal prison.
