Chennai’s Central Crime Branch on Wednesday searched the Tiruchi residence of former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi into an multi-crore fraud involving private schools.
Police also carried out searches at six locations in Chennai and Tiruchi linked to the former minister. A five-member police team began the search at around 7.30 am at Poyyamozhi’s residence in Thennur Anna Nagar, Tiruchi. Police personnel remained stationed outside the house while the operation continued.
Veteran DMK leader and former minister K N Nehru was denied permission to enter Poyyamozhi’s residence while the search was underway.
Probe Centres on Payments From Private Schools
The investigation concerns allegations that large sums of money were collected from private-school managements with promises of securing official clearances. These allegedly included upgrading schools, obtaining permanent recognition and securing approvals for building plans.
The alleged transactions are said to have taken place during the previous DMK government, when Poyyamozhi held the School Education portfolio.
The Central Crime Branch had earlier registered a case in connection with the allegations. The investigation has focused on money allegedly collected from private-school managements for obtaining various approvals and clearances.
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Around ₹100 Crore Allegedly Collected
Police had earlier arrested B T Arasakumar, who is accused of collecting around ₹100 crore from private-school managements for these purposes. The allegations against Arasakumar include collecting money from school managements for upgrading schools, obtaining permanent recognition and securing building plan approvals.
Arasakumar had operated an unregistered organisation called the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association. The alleged collection of around ₹100 crore forms a central part of the investigation into the suspected fraud involving private schools.
Searches Extend Across Chennai and Tiruchi
Apart from the search at Poyyamozhi’s Tiruchi residence, police sources said searches were conducted at six other locations in Chennai and Tiruchi linked to the former minister. The operation at his residence was conducted by a team from the Central Crime Branch, Chennai City. Police presence was maintained outside the property as officers continued the search.
The searches form part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged collection of large sums from private-school managements. The material visible in the reports does not specify what, if anything, was recovered during the searches or detail any allegation of money being personally received by Poyyamozhi.
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