TN Crime Branch raids ex-Minister Anbil Mahesh's properties in ₹100 crore school bribery probe
Synopsis
The Chennai Central Crime Branch has moved directly against former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, raiding his Tiruchirappalli home and a Chennai apartment in a ₹100 crore private school bribery probe. With a DMK functionary already in judicial custody, investigators are now chasing a wider alleged network that may have reached the ministerial level.
Key Takeaways
The Chennai Central Crime Branch (CCB) raided properties linked to former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on 16 September 2026 .
Searches were conducted at his Tiruchirappalli residence and a Chennai apartment on Greenways Road .
The probe centres on alleged bribery of more than ₹100 crore collected from private school operators in exchange for government recognition and statutory clearances.
Arakumar , founder-president of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association and a DMK functionary, was earlier arrested and remanded in judicial custody.
Poyyamozhi lost his Thiruverumbur assembly seat in the 2026 Tamil Nadu election ; no court has established wrongdoing by him.
Officials have not yet confirmed whether the former minister was questioned during the searches.
The Chennai Central Crime Branch (CCB) on 16 September 2026 conducted searches at properties linked to former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi as part of a widening investigation into alleged large-scale bribery tied to government approvals granted to private schools. The operation marks a significant escalation in a case that has already led to at least one arrest.
Where the Searches Were Conducted
Police teams fanned out simultaneously to Poyyamozhi's residence in Tiruchirappalli and an apartment on Greenways Road in Chennai. Details of documents or electronic devices seized during the operation were not immediately available, and authorities had not disclosed the exact time the searches commenced as of the latest update.
Officials have not yet issued a formal statement specifying what evidence prompted the searches or clarifying Poyyamozhi's precise status in the case. It was also not immediately confirmed whether he had been questioned during the operation.
The Case Background
The investigation centres on allegations that bribes were collected from private school managements in exchange for facilitating government recognition and various statutory clearances through official departments. The probe had earlier resulted in the arrest of P.D. Arakumar, founder-president of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association and a functionary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
According to investigators, Arakumar allegedly collected more than ₹100 crore from private school operators by claiming he could secure mandatory government recognition and legal permissions for their institutions. He was subsequently remanded in judicial custody, and investigators have been examining financial transactions, communications, and other records linked to the alleged money collection.
Who Is Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi
Poyyamozhi served as School Education Minister during the previous DMK government led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. A prominent party leader, he was twice elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from the Thiruverumbur constituency before being inducted into the Cabinet. He lost his seat in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election.
This comes amid broader scrutiny of private school regulatory processes in Tamil Nadu, where the grant of government recognition has long been a source of friction between school managements and state authorities.
What Investigators Are Looking For
The searches at the former minister's properties are believed to be aimed at tracing the wider alleged network and determining whether public officials or intermediaries were systematically involved in routing funds. Investigators have been piecing together financial links since Arakumar's arrest.
Notably, no court has established any wrongdoing by Poyyamozhi, and the allegations against him remain under investigation. The CCB is expected to release further details after completing its searches and examining any material recovered from the two locations.
Point of View
The DMK, is currently in opposition after the 2026 election loss, removing one layer of political protection. What remains unexplained is why formal searches took this long if the financial trail from Arakumar's arrest reportedly pointed upward. The absence of any official statement detailing the basis for the searches raises procedural transparency questions that the CCB will need to answer as the case moves toward a courtroom test.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the CCB raid Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi's properties?
The Chennai Central Crime Branch raided properties linked to former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on 16 September 2026 as part of an investigation into alleged large-scale bribery connected to government approvals for private schools. Investigators are attempting to trace whether public officials or intermediaries were part of the wider alleged network.
What is the Tamil Nadu private school bribery case about?
The case involves allegations that private school managements paid bribes of more than ₹100 crore to secure government recognition and mandatory statutory clearances from official departments. P.D. Arakumar, founder-president of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association and a DMK functionary, has already been arrested and remanded in judicial custody in connection with the case.
Who is Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi?
Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi is a senior DMK leader who served as Tamil Nadu's School Education Minister in the previous DMK government. He was twice elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from the Thiruverumbur constituency but lost his seat in the 2026 state election.
Has Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi been arrested or charged?
No. As of 16 September 2026, no arrest has been made and no court has established any wrongdoing by Poyyamozhi. His status in the case has not been formally clarified by authorities, and it was not confirmed whether he was questioned during the searches.
What happens next in the investigation?
The CCB is expected to examine documents, electronic devices, and other material recovered from the two searched locations before making further disclosures. Investigators are also analysing financial records and communications linked to the alleged bribe collection to determine the full scope of the network.
