Former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister and DMK leader Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was reportedly arrested by Chennai Police on October 26, 2026, in connection with an alleged ₹100 crore private school approval scam. The arrest comes after the Madras High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition on Monday. The case is being investigated by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Greater Chennai Police.
The case began with complaints alleging that money was collected from private school managements by promising to secure government approvals and official recognition. These approvals reportedly included permanent recognition for schools, permission to upgrade institutions, clearances from the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and other statutory permissions. The alleged amount involved was initially reported to be more than ₹100 crore.
According to reports, the complaint was filed by D. C. Ilangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu. The police registered a case against Anbil Mahesh, B. T. Arasakumar, former MLA Muthukumar and others. Investigators suspect that money was collected from school managements in the name of party funds, with assurances that their pending approval requests would be cleared. The investigation has reportedly examined complaints involving 177 private schools, while the total amount under investigation could be higher than the initial estimate.
The investigation has continued for several months. In September, the Central Crime Branch conducted searches at locations linked to Anbil Mahesh in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli. He was later questioned by police for several hours. Investigators also examined documents, bank records and electronic devices as part of efforts to establish the alleged money trail and the roles of those named in the case. The Enforcement Directorate has also reportedly started a separate money-laundering investigation linked to the alleged scam.
Anbil Mahesh has denied the allegations and has maintained that he cooperated with the investigation. His legal team argued that he had appeared for questioning and that custodial interrogation was not necessary. However, the Madras High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition on October 26, allowing the police to proceed without the protection he had sought against arrest.
The case has become a major political issue in Tamil Nadu because the allegations relate to the period when Anbil Mahesh served as School Education Minister in the previous DMK government. The investigation is expected to focus on the alleged collection of money, the role of the accused and the use of political or official influence to secure school approvals. The allegations have not yet been proven in court, and the case will proceed according to the evidence and legal process.
