Police get five-day custody of ex-MLA Muthukumar in private school bribery case

A special court has permitted the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Chennai police to take former MLA Muthukumar into custody for five days for interrogation in connection with the alleged collection of several crores of rupees in bribes from private schools in return for securing permanent recognition and various government approvals.

The case was registered by the CCB following a complaint from a private schools’ association, alleging that money had been collected from more than 1,000 private schools during the previous DMK regime on the promise of permanent recognition and other permissions.

Former Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association president B.T. Arasakumar, and Muthukumar, a former DMDK MLA who is now with the DMK, are among those booked in the case.

While Anbil Mahesh has been lodged in prison, Muthukumar surrendered before the special court for cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act in Chennai on October 29. Judge L.S. Sathyamurthy remanded him in judicial custody.

Subsequently, the CCB filed a petition seeking five days of police custody to interrogate Muthukumar.

Passing orders on Thursday, judge Sathyamurthy permitted the CCB to take Muthukumar into custody from 1 p.m. on November 12 until November 16. The police were directed to produce him before the court on the morning of November 16.

The judge also permitted Muthukumar’s advocate to be present during the interrogation and directed the police not to subject him to any physical or mental harassment.