Man accused in private school scam involving ex-DMK Minister Anbil Mahesh surrenders at Chennai court

Saravanan, an accused wanted in a case involving an alleged fraud in securing permanent recognition and various approvals for private schools in which former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi is a co-accused, surrendered before a special court in Chennai on Wednesday.

The Chennai Central Crime Branch (CCB) had registered a case based on a complaint from the Federation of Associations of Private Schools, alleging that several persons had collected money by promising to secure permanent recognition and other approvals for more than 1,000 private schools during the previous DMK regime.

The case involved allegations that several crores of rupees were collected as bribes. Besides, Mr Poyyamozhi, Private Schools Association president B.T. Arasakumar and former DMDK MLA Muthukumar, who is now with the DMK, are among those booked in the case.

Mr Saravanan, who is a driver and the sixth accused in the case, appeared before Judge L.S. Sathiyamoorthy of the special court for cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act in Chennai on Wednesday morning.

Accepting his submission that he had surrendered voluntarily without pressure from anyone, the judge remanded him in judicial custody till November 25 and ordered that he be lodged in Puzhal Central Prison.

During the hearing of Mr Poyyamozhi’s bail petition, the prosecution had contended that Mr Muthukumar had collected the money and that Saravanan had taken it to the then Minister’s residence. The police had also told the court they possessed video evidence to support this claim and that Mr Saravanan was absconding at the time.

Chennai / Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam / corruption & bribery