Anbil Mahesh denied anticipatory bail by Madras High Court in 100 crore private school membership scam case

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Monday, October 26, dismissed the anticipatory bail petition filed by senior DMK leader and former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi in connection with the alleged Rs 100 crore private school membership scam.

The petition was heard by Justice V Lakshminarayanan. The judge had reserved orders on October 16 after saying he would go through the case diary.

Case background:

The case concerns the alleged collection of money from private schools by promising permanent recognition and other approvals. The FIR was registered under Sections 316(5) (criminal breach of trust) and 318(4) (cheating), read with Section 3(5), of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The complainant's name is not available but the FIR is based on a complaint by the former general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, who alleged that its president, BT Arasukumar, and other office bearers collected membership money.

According to the prosecution, private schools were cheated for two years through an unregistered outfit called the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association. The government told the High Court that 177 complaints had been received in the case.

Arasakumar, the key accused, was arrested on June 27, 2026, and later detained under the Goondas Act by order of the Chennai Police Commissioner on July 11. The High Court quashed that detention on September 28. Muthukumar, treasurer of the association and a former DMK MLA, also approached the High Court for anticipatory bail.

The Central Crime Branch searched nine premises linked to Mahesh in Chennai and Tiruchy on September 16 and questioned him for about eight hours on September 18. Another report put the number of search locations at six.

On September 28, Mahesh moved the High Court to quash the FIR. His petition also challenged the government’s approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. On September 30, the court refused him interim relief. On October 7, the court adjourned the hearing to October 12 after asking him to file an anticipatory bail plea. He filed the plea on October 15, and the court sought the police response