18 hrs ago
Anbil Mahesh Questioned in Private School Approval Fraud Case
Police are investigating an alleged bribery scheme involving private school approvals.
They say money may have been collected from 177 school managements.
The suspected amount is about Rs 100 crore.
Former minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was asked questions by the police in Chennai.
He went to the questioning with his lawyers.
Police had searched his homes and other premises and taken documents and electronic devices.
Mahesh denies the allegations and says the searches were politically motivated.
He has said he will cooperate with the investigation.
Former School Education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi appeared before Chennai Central Crime Branch police on Friday.
Police questioned the DMK leader for more than an hour in a Prevention of Corruption Act case.
The case concerns an alleged Rs 100 crore bribery scheme involving 177 private school managements.
The Central Crime Branch seized 118 items, including property deeds, bank statements, phones, laptops and tablets, during searches.
Anbil Mahesh denied wrongdoing, called the searches political vendetta and said he would cooperate with investigators.
- Who
- Former School Education minister and DMK leader Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was questioned by the Chennai Central Crime Branch.
- What
- He was questioned in a Prevention of Corruption Act case concerning alleged bribery for permanent recognition of private schools.
- Where
- He appeared before the Chennai Central Crime Branch in Chennai; searches were conducted in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli.
- When
- He appeared on Friday; the searches took place on Wednesday.
- Why
- Police are investigating allegations that money was collected from 177 private school managements in exchange for permanent government recognition.
Police Investigation
Anbil Mahesh's Response
Alleged bribery scheme
Police Investigation
Police are investigating an alleged Rs 100 crore scheme in which money was reportedly collected from 177 private school managements for permanent government recognition.
Anbil Mahesh's Response
Anbil Mahesh denied the allegations against him.
Purpose of the searches
Police Investigation
The Central Crime Branch conducted searches and seized documents and electronic devices as part of the investigation.
Anbil Mahesh's Response
Mahesh described the searches as political vendetta and diversionary tactics linked to his criticism of the state government's proposed Secretariat-Assembly complex.
Cooperation with investigators
Police Investigation
Police summoned Mahesh for questioning after registering a Prevention of Corruption Act case against him.
Anbil Mahesh's Response
Mahesh said he fully cooperated during the searches and would continue cooperating with investigating officials.
Key facts
- Alleged scam value
- Rs 100 crore
- Schools involved
- 177 private school managements
- Questioning duration
- More than one hour
- Search duration
- Eight hours
- Items seized
- 118 items, including property deeds, bank statements, 18 mobile phones, laptops and tablets
- Earlier arrests
- B T Arasakumar and two others were arrested in June
- Legal provision
- Prevention of Corruption Act
Quotes
Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi
Former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister and DMK leader
“The police took away documents that I had maintained regarding Class 10 and 12 examination results when I was the School Education Minister, and also the documents pertaining to my inspection.... I will definitely cooperate with the investigating officials.”
deccanchronicle.com
“Every room, every drawer was checked. We fully cooperated. The officials themselves said such cooperation is rare.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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