The Madras High Court on Monday, 26 October 2025, dismissed the anticipatory bail petition of former Tamil Nadu Education Minister Anbil Mahesh in an alleged ₹100 crore corruption case tied to the granting of recognition, licences, and approvals to private schools in the state. Justice V. Lakshminarayan rejected the plea after the prosecution added provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act to the case and named Mahesh as an accused.

Background of the Case

The case traces back to a complaint filed by a former general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association against its president, B.T. Arasukumar, and other office-bearers. The complainant alleged that association representatives collected money from private schools as membership and subscription fees, promising to secure no-objection certificates, licences, recognition, and renewals — but failed to deliver on those assurances.

Police initially registered the FIR under Sections 316(5) and 318(4), read with Section 3(5), of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with allegations at that stage directed at the association's president and other office-bearers. The case's scope widened significantly when the prosecution submitted an alteration report before the Metropolitan Magistrate, adding offences under Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and naming Mahesh as a fresh accused.

What Mahesh Argued in Court

Contesting his inclusion in the case, Mahesh maintained that there was no material on record to establish that he had personally received any illegal gratification. He argued that no specific overt act had been attributed to him to substantiate his alleged involvement, and that the complaint and witness statements themselves indicated that certain individuals had merely invoked his name while collecting funds from private schools — a claim he said could not be equated with personal wrongdoing.

He also questioned the timing of the original complaint, contending that it was lodged after the elections and the change of government, and suggested that internal differences between the complainant and the association president may have driven the allegations. The court, however, was not persuaded and dismissed his anticipatory bail application.

Parallel Legal Challenge

Separately, Mahesh has filed a petition before the Madras High Court seeking to quash the FIR registered against him. That challenge remains pending. The dismissal of anticipatory bail means Mahesh now faces a heightened risk of arrest as the corruption investigation proceeds, though the quashing petition could potentially provide relief if the court finds merit in it.

Significance and What Comes Next

This is a significant legal setback for the former minister, who served in the DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu. The Prevention of Corruption Act provisions carry serious implications, including mandatory custodial investigation in certain circumstances. Notably, the case also shines a light on the broader ecosystem of private school regulation in the state, where critics have long alleged that approvals and licences are susceptible to rent-seeking. The outcome of the quashing petition before the high court will be the next critical development to watch.