CCB searches ex-DMK minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi’s residence in Rs 100-crore scam case

CHENNAI:The Chennai Central Crime Branch (CCB) conducted searches at the residence of former school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and six other premises in Chennai and Tiruchi on Wednesday as part of its investigation into a private-school approval fraud case involving more than Rs 100 crore.The case followed a complaint from the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu alleging that private-school managements were cheated after being promised permanent recognition, upgradation, DTCP and other government approvals. CCB arrested B T Arasakumar, 59, of Saligramam, on June 27. Police alleged that he had collected more than Rs 100 crore from school managements by promising to secure the approvals.The investigation has so far covered 177 affected private schools, according to the police. More than 250 people, including officials from the School Education Department, were questioned, while government records and other documents were collected.Police said bank accounts linked to the accused and their associates were identified and frozen. Twenty accounts linked to Arasakumar and his family and 29 accounts linked to another accused, Muthukumar, were being examined for financial transactions.The searches covered residences, offices, school premises and locations connected to the School Education Department. Police seized documents relating to private schools, representations submitted to government offices, financial records, mobile phones, computers, hard disks and other electronic evidence.As part of the latest investigation, police said statements, government records and electronic evidence led them to examine the role of Anbil Mahesh, who was school education minister when the alleged transactions took place. A case was registered against him under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, according to the police.Simultaneous searches were conducted at four premises in Chennai and Tiruchi linked to the former minister and two premises linked to his aide Valadi Karthik.The CCB was examining financial transactions, documentary links and digital evidence to establish the role of each person involved in the case. Further investigation was under way.