Former Tamil Nadu minister asks High Court to quash fraud-case FIR

Former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi has asked the Madras High Court to quash a First Information Report connected to alleged illegal collections from private schools, The Hindu reported. The FIR was registered by the Chennai Central Crime Branch on June 27, 2026. It concerns allegations that more than ₹100 crore was collected from private schools during the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government.

Justice V. Lakshminarayanan was scheduled to hear on Monday an application by Poyyamozhi seeking exemption from producing the original FIR. The former minister’s petition follows an investigation into allegations made by D.C.

Elangovan, president of a registered private-schools association. Elangovan alleged that B.T. Arasakumar, president of an unregistered association, claimed proximity to the ruling establishment while collecting money from school managements.

The alleged payments were purportedly sought for services including school upgrades, permanent recognition and building-plan approvals. The complaint named 13 alleged associates and urged police to investigate Poyyamozhi’s role. The report does not state that the former minister has been charged or found responsible for the alleged collections.

The CCB arrested Arasakumar on June 27 and questioned him in custody. He was later detained under the Goondas Act on July 11. His wife challenged that preventive detention in a habeas corpus petition, arguing that a civil dispute between office-bearers of two associations had been turned into a criminal case.

The CCB searched nine locations linked to Poyyamozhi in Chennai and Tiruchi on September 16 and summoned him for questioning on September 18. The High Court proceedings on his request to quash the FIR were pending.