Police Search Former DMK Minister's Home Over Private School Fraud Allegations

A team of five officers from the Central Crime Branch in Chennai launched a search operation at the residence of former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Wednesday. Amid allegations of multi-crore fraud involving private schools during his tenure.

The police began the search around 7:30 am at Poyyamozhi's home in Thennur Anna Nagar, Tiruchi. Police officers officers personnel were stationed outside the house as the operation continued. According to sources, searches were also conducted at six locations in Chennai and Tiruchi linked to the former minister.

The investigation concerns allegations that large sums of money were collected from private-school managements with promises of securing official clearances. This includes upgrading schools, obtaining permanent recognition, and getting approvals for building plans. The Central Crime Branch had earlier registered a case and arrested B T Arasakumar.

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Who is accused of collecting around Rs 100 crore from private-school managements for these purposes.

Arasakumar had operated an unregistered organisation called the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association. Poyyamozhi held the School Education portfolio when the alleged transactions took place. Veteran DMK leader and former minister K N Nehru was denied permission to enter Poyyamozhi's residence as the search was in progress.

The allegations against Poyyamozhi date back to his tenure as School Education Minister. At that time, he is accused of collecting large sums of money from private-school managements. The Central Crime Branch had registered a case and arrested Arasakumar.

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Who is accused of collecting around Rs 100 crore from these managements.

The investigation into the allegations began after B T Arasakumar was arrested by the Central Crime Branch. Since then, searches have been conducted at various locations linked to Poyyamozhi and his associates.

The DMK has denied any involvement in the alleged fraud. The party has also released a statement denying the allegations against its leader, Poyyamozhi.