Former MLA Muthukumar surrendered before a special court in Chennai on Thursday after the Supreme Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition, in a multi-crore bribery case linked to alleged payments for recognition and other approvals to private schools during the tenure of former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi.
The special court for Prevention of Corruption Act cases remanded Muthukumar in judicial custody until November 12. The Central Crime Branch of the Greater Chennai City Police registered the case after allegations that crores of rupees were collected in exchange for granting approvals to private schools. The police have said they possess evidence of the alleged irregularities.
Muthukumar, described by the police as a key player in the alleged scam and a close associate of Poyyamozhi, had been absconding. He was elected as an MLA from the DMDK and later joined the DMK. The Supreme Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition on Wednesday, October 28, after which he surrendered before Judge L.S. Sathyamurthy the following morning.
The case has also brought the functioning of school-recognition and approval processes under scrutiny. Such approvals determine whether private schools can operate with official recognition and secure related permissions. According to the police case, the alleged payments involved the grant of recognition and other approvals, although the supplied proceedings do not detail the individual schools or the specific approvals allegedly obtained.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Muthukumar’s counsel sought first-class prison facilities, submitting that he was an income-tax assessee and therefore entitled to such privileges. The court accepted the plea and directed prison authorities to provide first-class accommodation and medical assistance if required.
Poyyamozhi, who was arrested on October 26 and is lodged in Puzhal Central Prison, has separately moved a bail petition. The special court directed the Central Crime Branch to file its response to that application. The police have also sought five days of custody to question the former Minister about his alleged links with Muthukumar, the identities of people who allegedly paid money, the amounts collected from each person, the role of other alleged intermediaries and the money trail.
The bail petition was taken up on Thursday, but the court granted the police time to respond and adjourned the hearing to Monday, November 2. The court also posted for the same day a separate petition by Poyyamozhi seeking the return of electronic devices seized during searches at his residence. The prime accused, B.T. Arasakumar, was arrested earlier and remained in prison for more than 90 days before obtaining conditional bail.
