Former Tamil Nadu minister challenges sanction behind fraud investigation

Former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi has challenged the legal basis of a police investigation into an alleged fraud case involving more than ₹100 crore, telling the Madras High Court that the required sanction was improperly granted. In a petition seeking to quash the First Information Report, Poyyamozhi argued that Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act required approval from the Governor before police could investigate alleged acts by a public servant carried out in the course of official duties. He said the sanction issued by the State government’s Public Department on 23 June 2026 was legally invalid and could not support either the FIR or the investigation.

He also argued that the complaint was vague, did not identify a specific dishonest act by him and followed an unexplained delay of more than four years. The former minister alleged that the investigation reflected political retaliation after a change of government. That allegation is part of his petition and has not been established by the court.

He also referred to an alteration report filed by the Chennai Central Crime Branch before a magistrate at Egmore on 9 September. The report added provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act after investigators said material collected during the inquiry indicated his role in certain demands. Poyyamozhi argued that the report did not claim that he personally received illegal gratification from private school managements seeking upgrades or permanent recognition.

He said the witness statements appeared to allege that individuals had collected money by using his name, rather than showing an overt act by him. Justice V. Lakshminarayanan on Monday allowed an application dispensing with production of the original FIR, enabling the Registry to number the main quashing petition.

The source material does not state that the court has ruled on the request to quash the FIR.