Why was Anbil Mahesh arrested? Tamil Nadu’s Rs 400-crore private school approvals case explained

A case that began with a complaint about money allegedly collected from private schools for government approvals has ended with the arrest of former Tamil Nadu school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. The prosecution in the case says around Rs 400 crore was collected from 177 victims in exchange for permanent recognition, school upgrades, and planning approvals.

Anbil Mahesh, a senior leader of the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), was arrested on October 26 by the Greater Chennai Police's Central Crime Branch (CCB) , shortly after the Madras High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. A special court remanded him to judicial custody until November 6, and he was taken to Puzhal Prison.

Mahesh has denied the allegations and accused the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government of political vendetta. He has not been convicted of any offence, and the allegations remain under investigation.

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Anbil Mahesh Case: The private school approval scam

The case began with a complaint filed by DC Elangovan who alleged that large sums of money were collected from private schools to secure permanent recognition, upgradation and approvals from planning authorities.

These included approvals from the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). Police registered a case under Sections 316(5), 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, covering offences, including criminal breach of trust and cheating.

Mahesh was not named in the original First Information Report (FIR). The investigation initially focused on BT Arasakumar, Muthukumar and others allegedly involved in collecting money from school managements.

Arasakumar, listed as the first accused, and two others – Raju and Suresh – have been arrested. Muthukumar, the second accused, remains absconding. The police subsequently claimed to have uncovered material linking Mahesh to the alleged transactions.

On September 9, investigators filed an alteration report adding Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, as amended in 2018.

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Tamil Nadu Private Schools: The Anbil Mahesh ‘link’

According to the prosecution, Mahesh was directly involved in collecting money from private school managements under the description of a "party fund". Investigators alleged that he assured school representatives that government orders addressing their demands would be issued after payments were made.

The High Court order refers to statements recorded before a magistrate under Section 183(5) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). According to these statements, one witness met Mahesh on January 13, 2026, and questioned why a promised government order had not been issued despite payment of the alleged party fund.

Prosecutors also cited meetings of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association at Kalaivanar Arangam and that Mahesh told association members that grievances routed through Arasakumar and Muthukumar would be addressed by the government.

Police further claimed that the association was formed in 2024 following communication from Mahesh through his personal assistant and that he attended its launch in December that year. Investigators have also accused Mahesh of shielding Muthukumar, who remains absconding.

The prosecution cited statements from Muthukumar's relatives and argued that Mahesh's custodial interrogation was necessary to confront him with the second accused. These allegations have not been established at trial.

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Why is permanent recognition of private schools significant?

One of the central allegations concerns promises to secure permanent recognition for private schools.

The Madras High Court order notes that Tamil Nadu had adopted a policy against granting permanent recognition following the Kumbakonam school fire, which killed nearly 100 children. The tragedy raised serious concerns about school safety and regulatory oversight.

Despite this policy, investigators allege that private school managements were promised permanent recognition in exchange for payments. Justice V. Lakshminarayanan noted that the state government's counter-statement indicated that steps towards permanent recognition had been taken on Mahesh's directions.

The order, however, does not specify which schools received such recognition or whether the approvals were ultimately granted.

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Why was Anbil Mahesh's anticipatory bail rejected?

On October 26, Justice V Lakshminarayanan rejected Mahesh's anticipatory bail plea, observing that his cooperation with investigators was insufficient to grant pre-arrest protection. The court said custodial interrogation was necessary to trace the alleged money trail and investigate his suspected role in shielding Muthukumar, the absconding accused.

Mahesh's lawyers argued that he had cooperated with police, was not a flight risk and that the documentary evidence made custodial interrogation unnecessary. They also questioned why the Central Crime Branch was investigating the case instead of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). The court rejected these arguments, noting that the DVAC did not have exclusive jurisdiction over corruption cases.

Mahesh’s lawyers have said they will challenge the arrest and remand.

DMK leaders MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin condemned the arrest as a political vendetta. Mahesh is the first former minister from Stalin's cabinet to be arrested in a corruption case since chief minister C Joseph Vijay took office in May 2026. Udhayanidhi met Mahesh after he was arrested.