DMK leader Anbil Mahesh arrested in Rs 100 crore school licence bribery case

DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was arrested on Monday in connection with an alleged Rs 100 crore scam involving approvals and statutory clearances for private schools. His arrest came shortly after the Madras High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition in the case.Mahesh was arrested by the Greater Chennai Police's Central Crime Branch (CCB), which is investigating allegations that money was collected from private school managements in exchange for permanent recognition and other administrative approvals.OVER 1,000 PRIVATE SCHOOLS UNDER SCANNERAccording to the allegations, Mahesh collected money from more than 1,000 private school managements in the guise of a "party fund" during his tenure as School Education Minister from 2021 to 2026.The alleged payments were linked to the issuance of permanent recognition and other administrative clearances for private educational institutions. The FIR registered by the CCB includes charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA). The allegations are under investigation.ED PROBES SUSPECTED MONEY TRAILThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to investigate the suspected financial trail linked to the alleged scam. The ED's probe is expected to examine the movement of funds suspected to be connected to the alleged collection of money from private school managements.The case centres on allegations of corruption in the process of granting recognition and statutory clearances to private schools in Tamil Nadu. Mahesh's arrest follows the dismissal of his anticipatory bail plea by the Madras High Court.- EndsWith PTI inputs