High-Profile Arrest Shakes Tamil Nadu Politics

Chennai — In a major development shaking the political landscape of Tamil Nadu, former School Education Minister and senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi has been arrested. The arrest was executed by the Chennai Police's Central Crime Branch (CCB) in connection with a sweeping corruption investigation involving an alleged Rs 100-crore bribery ring tied to private school approvals and licensing.

Investigators state that the syndicate allegedly collected massive sums of money from private educational institutions under the false premise of securing government recognitions, permanent licenses, planning approvals, and official renewals. Authorities have identified at least 177 private schools reportedly impacted by the alleged illicit scheme.

Evidence and Legal Proceedings

According to law enforcement officials, Mr. Poyyamozhi was officially named as a primary accused following extensive inquiries. Investigators reportedly gathered compelling evidence from seized digital devices and recorded statements during sustained questioning, which allegedly directly implicated the former minister in corruption and breach of trust.

Consequently, the CCB invoked strict provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act against the senior politician. Mr. Poyyamozhi has consistently denied all allegations, maintaining his innocence and challenging the legality of the case built against him.

The arrest comes on the heels of a legal setback at the Madras High Court, where Justice V Lakshminarayan dismissed the former minister's anticipatory bail petition, denying him interim protection from arrest. Legal representatives for Mr. Poyyamozhi have separately initiated proceedings seeking to quash the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the police.

Origins of the Investigation

The sprawling corruption probe traces its roots back to an initial formal complaint lodged by Ilangovan, the secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools, Tamil Nadu. In his complaint, Ilangovan alleged that exorbitant sums were extracted from educational institutions under the guarantee of securing crucial regulatory clearances, including No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) and institutional upgradation approvals.

The initial focus of the inquiry centered on BT Arasukumar, president of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, alongside other prominent office-bearers. These individuals were accused of leveraging membership fees and subscriptions to extract capital from schools while falsely promising expedited administrative processing from state bodies. As the scope of the financial audit widened, investigators uncovered deeper systemic corruption, culminating in the action against the former cabinet minister.

Political Fallout

The high-profile arrest has immediately triggered sharp political friction across the state. The opposition DMK leadership fiercely condemned the action, accusing the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) administration of weaponizing state investigative machinery to politically target and harass opposition leaders.

As the legal battle shifts to the higher judiciary, Daily News 365 will continue to provide updates as this developing major story unfolds.