Former DMK minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi arrested in private school scam case

Former DMK minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was arrested by the Chennai police in connection with an alleged multi-crore fraud on October 26, 2026. Photo: Special Arrangements

Former DMK minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was produced before a court in Chennai on Monday (October 26, 2026) following his arrest in a corruption case and was remanded in judicial custody till November 6.

Anbil Poyyamozhi, held in a bribery case involving alleged extortion of money from private school managements on the promise of government recognition and various statutory approvals, was produced before the Special Court for Cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act here at 10.10 pm after a medical examination at a government hospital.

After hearing arguments from defense counsel Wilson and Saravanan and public prosecutor John Sathyan, Justice LS Sathiyamurthy remanded Poyyamozhi to judicial custody till November 6.

According to police sources, the Central Crime Brach (CCB) special team, which is investigating allegations that several crores of rupees were collected as “party fund” from various private school managements in Tamil Nadu, arrested Mr. Poyyamozhi, who was the state education minister for schools from 2021 to 2026.

This is the first arrest of a senior DMK party functionary and former minister since the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) came to power, sweeping the DMK out of office.

Police personnel deployed outside the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner’s office in Vepery where former DMK minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was questioned after his arrest on October 26, 2026 | Photo credit: M. Srinath

‘Fleeced Private Schools’

The case stems from a complaint lodged by C. Elangovan, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Federation, with the Chennai Commissioner of Police, leveling serious allegations against BT Arasakumar, 59, who was accused of amassing large sums of money by running an unregistered association called ‘Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association’.

The complainant alleged that Mr. Arasakumar, who was later detained under the Goondas Act, collected money from private school managements by promising to offer services such as getting approval for upgrading the schools, obtaining permanent recognition and securing the approval of the construction plan using his alleged influence with the then-ruling dispensation, sources said.

The CCB included Mr. Poyyamozhi as an accused in the case after evidence emerged during investigations pointing to his involvement in the alleged corruption.

Muthukumar, a close associate of Mr. Poyyamozhi, was allegedly involved in a fraud of about ₹100 crore. “He is on the run and we are trying to nab him as soon as possible. We are following any leads that could lead to his location,” said a police officer.

Political vendetta, says Stalin

Former Chief Minister MK Stalin strongly condemned Mr Poyyamozhi’s arrest, calling it an act of “political revenge”.

In an official statement, Mr. Stalin accused the ruling administration of trying to divert public attention from the government’s failure. “By arresting Anbil Mahesh, who fully cooperated with the investigating officer on the charges against him, the ruling government believes that it can divert public attention and cover up for a few days the deplorable collapse of law and order and the rotting administrative breakdown. Anbil Mahesh will face the charges against him legally,” Mr. Stalin said.

(With PTI inputs)

Published – 26 Oct 2026 16:51 IST