Chennai, September 16 (Daily Kiran) : Authorities in Chennai are intensifying their investigation into a bribery scandal involving private schools. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has launched raids on properties associated with former Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, who is implicated in allegations of accepting bribes for school approvals.
Police teams have targeted Poyyamozhi’s residence in Tiruchirappalli and an apartment on Greenways Road in Chennai. This operation is part of a broader inquiry into claims that bribes were solicited from private educational institutions in exchange for government recognition and other necessary permits.
Poyyamozhi, a prominent figure in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, previously served as the School Education Minister during the former DMK administration. He was elected twice from the Thiruvaiyaru constituency but lost his seat in the 2026 assembly elections.
The searches at his properties mark a significant development in the ongoing investigation by the CCB. Officials are examining whether private school managements were extorted under the pretense of facilitating official approvals through government channels. Details regarding any documents or electronic devices seized during the raids have not yet been disclosed.
This investigation follows the earlier arrest of P.D. Arakumar, the founder-chairman of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association and a DMK official. Authorities allege that Arakumar collected over ₹100 crore from private school operators, falsely promising them government recognition and necessary legal approvals.
Arakumar has since been placed in judicial custody, with investigators scrutinizing financial transactions, communications, and other records linked to the alleged extortion.
The ongoing searches at the former minister’s properties are seen as a crucial step in uncovering the full extent of the network involved, including any potential complicity by government officials or intermediaries.
As of now, officials have not provided a detailed statement regarding the evidence that prompted the raids or Poyyamozhi’s involvement in the case. It remains unclear if he has been questioned during the operation. The investigation continues, and no court has yet confirmed any wrongdoing by the former minister. Further information is expected to emerge following the completion of the searches and analysis of the materials seized from both locations.
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