Ex-TN Minister Poyyamozhi arrested in school recognition scam

Chennai: Former school education minister and DMK leader Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was arrested by the Central Crime Branch on Monday in an alleged case of₹100 crore fraud. Poyyamozhi was arrested by the police in Chennai.

The development came after the Madras HC dismissed the anticipatory bail petition of Poyyamozhi in connection with the alleged scam in which crores of rupees were collected from management of private schools to give approvals and recognition.

The case was registered based on a complaint lodged by DC Elangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in TN. In his complaint, Elangovan alleged that BT Arasakumar and Muthukumar, who claimed to be the founder-president and treasurer, respectively, of the TN Private Schools Association, an unregistered organisation, had collected more than ₹100 cr from schools. The accused allegedly promised to secure permanent recognition from the government, approvals, clearances and other statutory permissions. The money was collected under the guise of contributions towards "party funds" for DMK, which was in power at the time.