Former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was remanded to judicial custody until November 6, 2026, by a special anti-corruption court in Chennai late Monday night following his arrest in an alleged ₹100-crore school approval bribery racket.
Poyyamozhi, who served as School Education Minister from 2021 to 2026 under the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam administration, was apprehended on October 26 by a special team of the Central Crime Branch. As documented in investigative reporting by The Hindu, police escorted the former minister to the Special Court for cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act at approximately 10:10 pm following a mandatory medical examination at a government hospital.
The Remand Hearing and CCB Probe
Special Court Judge L. S. Sathiyamurthy ordered Poyyamozhi into custody after hearing extensive submissions from defence advocates Wilson and Saravanan, alongside Public Prosecutor John Sathyan. The prosecution presented findings gathered by the Central Crime Branch alleging that Poyyamozhi supervised a systematic scheme collecting multi-crore sums labelled as 'party funds' from private school managements statewide in exchange for statutory approvals and mandatory government recognitions.
The Central Crime Branch initiated the probe following a formal complaint lodged by C. Elangovan, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Federation. State investigators previously submitted to the Madras High Court that their inquiry uncovered illicit financial transfers during Poyyamozhi's ministerial tenure, including allegations that assurances were extended to families of absconding co-accused.
Regarding other individuals implicated in the network, "he is absconding and efforts are on to apprehend him at the earliest. We are tracking some clues that might lead to his location," a police officer stated during the ongoing enforcement sweep.
Key Procedural Milestones in the Investigation
| Date / Timeline | Milestone | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2021–2026 | Ministerial Tenure | Alleged collection of illegal funds from private school managements under the guise of party contributions. |
| October 26, 2026 | CCB Arrest & Questioning | Poyyamozhi detained and interrogated at the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner's office in Vepery. |
| October 26, 2026 (10:10 PM) | Special Court Appearance | Produced before Special Judge L. S. Sathiyamurthy after mandatory medical screening. |
| November 6, 2026 | Remand Expiry | Scheduled conclusion of judicial custody term, subject to potential bail petitions or custodial extensions. |
Political Repercussions
This arrest marks the first high-profile detention of a senior DMK functionary since the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam came into office. While the DMK leadership released an official statement dismissing the action as targeted "political vendetta," law enforcement officials maintain the ongoing proceedings are evidence-based, focusing on recovered communications, financial ledgers, and complaints filed by school federations.
Poyyamozhi is being held at a central prison facility pending his scheduled appearance on November 6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi arrested?
He was arrested by the Central Crime Branch over allegations of running an extortion and graft operation that collected an estimated ₹100 crore from private school managements in return for state recognitions and regulatory approvals during his tenure as School Education Minister.
Until when has Poyyamozhi been remanded to custody?
Special Judge L. S. Sathiyamurthy ordered Poyyamozhi remanded to judicial custody until November 6, 2026.
Who initiated the complaint against the former minister?
The investigation originated from an official complaint filed with the Chennai Police Commissioner by C. Elangovan, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Federation.
