School Scam Deepens: Ex-Minister Anbil Seeks Bail as Key Accused Muthukumar Surrenders

In a significant development in the alleged multi-crore school approval scam in Tamil Nadu, key accused V Muthukumar surrendered to a special court in Chennai on October 29, 2026, just days after the Supreme Court denied him anticipatory bail. Meanwhile, former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, who was arrested earlier this week in connection with the same case, has filed a petition seeking regular bail from judicial custody. This dual movement intensifies the legal battle surrounding the alleged fraud that has rocked the state's education sector. The scam, estimated to be between ₹100 crore and ₹400 crore, involves allegations that Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, during his tenure as minister, and others, collected substantial 'party funds' from private school managements. These payments were allegedly in exchange for promises of permanent recognition, upgradation approvals, and other statutory permissions like DTCP clearances. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) is investigating the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also initiated a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to trace the financial trail. The special court has remanded Muthukumar to judicial custody until November 12, 2026, highlighting the gravity of the charges against him. Anbil Mahesh's bail plea is scheduled for hearing on November 2, 2026, alongside a police request for his custodial interrogation and a petition for the return of his seized electronic devices. With allegations of high-level political involvement and widespread irregularities impacting numerous schools, all eyes are now on these crucial court proceedings that could unveil further details of the elaborate scheme.