Chennai. B.T. Arasakumar, president of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, has received major relief from the Madras High Court in a case involving allegations that more than ₹100 crore was collected from private school managements. The High Court on Monday quashed the preventive detention order issued by the Chennai Police Commissioner on July 11, 2026, under the Goondas Act. The court cited the delay in considering a representation seeking revocation of the detention order as a key ground for setting it aside.
A Bench of Justice N. Sathish Kumar and Justice K. Rajasekar allowed a habeas corpus petition filed by Arasakumar’s wife. The Bench observed that when a person’s personal liberty is curtailed through preventive detention, a representation seeking revocation of the detention order must be considered without unnecessary delay. Arasakumar had submitted such a representation on July 23. The delay in considering it became a significant basis for the court to quash the detention order.
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The petition also argued that the allegations against Arasakumar did not amount to activities affecting public order. Therefore, there was no justification for invoking the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Slum-Grabbers Act, 1982, for preventive detention. Senior counsel P. Wilson challenged the detention order on these grounds before the court.
The case began with a complaint filed on June 23 by C. Elangovan, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Federation, before the Commissioner of Police. The complaint alleged that Arasakumar had been operating an allegedly unregistered organisation called the ‘Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association’ and had collected large sums of money from private school managements.
According to the complaint, money was allegedly collected from school managements by promising assistance in obtaining approvals for upgrading schools, permanent recognition, building plan approvals and other administrative clearances. It was alleged that Arasakumar referred to his alleged proximity to the then ruling establishment while making such promises. The complainant further alleged that some private school managements were threatened with serious consequences if they disclosed details of the transactions publicly.
Based on these allegations, the police registered a First Information Report. Arasakumar was arrested and subjected to custodial interrogation. The authorities subsequently invoked the Goondas Act and issued a preventive detention order against him.
Before the High Court, Arasakumar’s wife argued that her husband had been trying for a long time to register the ‘Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association’, but the process could not be completed because another association with the same name already existed. The petition described the allegations as arising from a dispute between office-bearers of different associations representing private schools in Tamil Nadu. It argued that such a dispute could not justify preventive detention under a law meant to address threats to public order.
The petitioner also stated that Arasakumar, 59, had been continuously cooperating with the investigation and had remained in custody for a considerable period. His health-related difficulties were also mentioned before the court.
The High Court’s decision, however, was primarily based on the delay in considering the representation against the detention order. The court’s decision to quash the preventive detention does not amount to a final adjudication on the underlying allegations of financial wrongdoing. The investigation into the allegations can continue in accordance with law.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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