Published Sep 16, 2026 | 10:42 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 16, 2026 | 10:42 AM
TN's ex-Education Minister Anbil Mahesh. (Special Arrangement)
Synopsis: The CCB is conducting simultaneous searches at six locations in Chennai and Tiruchi linked to former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and his alleged aide Valadi Karthik. The searches are part of its investigation into an alleged financial fraud involving private school managements and government approvals. Ex-CM Stalin has condemned the raids as “political vendetta” and termed them a diversionary tactic.
The Chennai Police’s Central Crime Branch (CCB) is conducting simultaneous searches at six locations in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli on Wednesday, September 16, as part of its investigation into an alleged financial fraud involving private school managements and government approvals. The searches include locations linked to former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and his alleged aide Valadi Karthik.
The case was registered based on a complaint lodged by Ilangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu, alleging that private school managements were cheated after being promised government approvals, including permanent recognition, school upgradation, DTCP (Directorate of Town and Country Planning) approvals and other statutory clearances, in return for money.
As part of the investigation, the CCB arrested BT Arasakumar, 59, of Saligramam, Chennai, on June 27, 2026. Arasakumar called himself the founder-president of an unregistered organisation called the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association (TNPSAA). He was subsequently remanded in judicial custody and later detained under the Goondas Act. Two other persons connected to the case have also been arrested and remanded in judicial custody.
Police said the investigation has been expanded across Tamil Nadu, with more than 250 people questioned, including private school representatives and officials from the School Education Department and its offices. Several government records connected to the alleged transactions have also been seized.
The CCB’s preliminary investigation has found that money running into several crores of rupees was allegedly collected from 177 private schools. Police said complaints from additional schools were continuing to arrive.
As part of the financial investigation, police have identified and frozen bank accounts linked to the accused, their family members and other persons connected to the alleged transactions.
Police said 20 bank accounts linked to the first accused Arasakumar and his family and 29 accounts linked to the second accused Muthukumar are being examined, with scrutiny of their financial transactions continuing.
The CCB has also conducted searches in several phases at the residences and offices of persons connected to the case, school premises and the DPI campus, where the Directorate of School Education is located.
During these searches, police seized documents allegedly connected to the case, records relating to private schools, petitions and representations submitted to government offices, financial records, mobile phones, computers, hard disks and other digital and electronic evidence. The CCB is examining each person’s role and the links between the financial transactions, documents and digital evidence.
According to a police statement, the investigation has now been extended based on witness statements, documents, electronic evidence and government records. Police allege that evidence gathered during the investigation points to corruption and criminal breach of trust involving Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, who was the School Education Minister in the previous DMK government.
Based on this investigation, police have registered a case against Anbil Mahesh under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, according to the statement.
The CCB is conducting simultaneous searches at four locations belonging to the ex-Minister in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli and two locations linked to his aide Valadi Karthik. The searches began at around 8 am on September 16.
One of the locations being searched is Anbil Mahesh’s residence in Tiruchirappalli, while searches are also underway at locations in Chennai. Reports have also identified a residence linked to the former minister in the Raja Annamalaipuram/Greenways Road area among the locations being searched.
DMK president MK Stalin has termed the searches against former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi as a “political vendetta” and an attempt to divert public attention from pressing issues in the State.
In a post on social media, Stalin alleged that protests over power cuts, the Pattinapakkam fishermen’s agitation, demonstrations by relatives of people missing in Nepal, the shortage of Aavin milk and recent incidents including a double murder in Ramanathapuram were among issues causing public concern.
He also referred to the alleged harassment of a woman police officer in Ayanavaram by a TVK functionary and the reported death of a government bus driver during a Vinayagar Chathurthi procession in Chennai.
Stalin alleged that instead of addressing these issues, the government had targeted Anbil Mahesh with a raid to divert public attention. He described the action as a political vendetta and said the DMK would face the matter through legal means.
He further claimed that such raids against opposition leaders would not reduce public anger and that the allegations made against Anbil Mahesh would not stand before the law.
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(Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
