Chennai/Tiruchirapalli, Sep 16 (PTI) The CCB sleuths on Wednesday conducted simultaneous searches at the residences and premises linked to former minister and DMK leader Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli in connection with an alleged Rs 100-crore private school approval fraud case.
Searches were carried out across six locations — four premises linked to the former School Education minister and two premises associated with his aide, Valadi Karthik, police said.
Addressing the media in Tiruchirapalli after an eight-hour search by the CCB, Poyyamozhi asserted his innocence, stating he has “no guilt and no fear.” The DMK leader said a team of over 20 officials searched his residence from 7.40 am to 3.40 pm following allegations repeatedly raised by a YouTuber.
During the exhaustive search, he claimed the police only found and took away routine files from his ministerial tenure, including documents related to Class 10 and 12 results, achievements, and district-wise education department reviews.
Poyyamozhi noted that he extended absolute cooperation to the officers, allowing them to thoroughly check every room and drawer without hesitation.
Earlier, taking to X, DMK president M K Stalin termed the searches a “blatant act of political vendetta” by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government.
The Central Crime Branch (CCB) registered a case against the former minister under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act following an examination of departmental records, financial transactions, and electronic evidence linked to his tenure as school education minister, according to an official release.
The probe originates from a complaint lodged by the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu, which alleged that administrations of various private schools were defrauded with false promises of obtaining permanent recognition, upgradation, Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) clearances, and other state government approvals.
Earlier on June 27, the CCB arrested 59-year-old B T Arasakumar of Saligramam for allegedly collecting over Rs 100 crore from school managements. Investigators have so far examined 177 affected private schools and questioned more than 250 individuals, including School Education Department personnel.
The police have also frozen 20 bank accounts linked to Arasakumar and his family, alongside 29 accounts linked to another accused, Muthukumar.
During Wednesday’s operations, investigating teams seized representations submitted to government offices, private school approval files, financial documents, computers, mobile phones, and hard drives.
CCB officials said further investigations and verification of seized digital and documentary evidence are underway.
Reacting to the CCB action, Stalin alleged that it was an attempt to divert public attention from pressing administrative “failures”.
“In frustration over being unable to fix problems shaking the state, the incompetent TVK government has launched the weapon of raids to divert people’s attention,” Stalin said in a post on ‘X’.
Asserting that the DMK would fight the case through legal avenues, Stalin added: “Public anger cannot be appeased by conducting raids on the opposition. This government will soon realise that false accusations will not stand before the law.” Meanwhile, high drama unfolded outside Poyyamozhi’s residence in Tiruchirapalli as DMK cadres staged a protest demanding that the leader’s legal counsel be permitted inside during the Central Crime Branch search. Raising slogans against the agency, party workers condemned the restrictions before police intervened to restore order.
Senior DMK leader K N Nehru also tried to meet him during the searches, but was denied entry by police personnel, who cordoned off the entrance.
Sources said police have summoned the former minister to appear before the Central Crime Branch office on September 18. PTI JR ROH
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