Chennai police granted custody of ex-Minister Anbil Mahesh till November 4

DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi being produced at a court in Chennai. File

The Special Court for Cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act in Chennai on Monday (November 2, 2026) permitted the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Greater Chennai Police to take former DMK Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi into police custody for interrogation for three days in an alleged multi-crore bribery case involving irregularities in granting various approvals to private schools.

Mr. Poyyamozhi, who served as School Education Minister in the previous DMK Government (2021-26), was recently arrested by the CCB following a complaint by an association of private schools alleging that crores of rupees were collected as bribes for granting permanent recognition to private schools. He is currently lodged in Puzhal Central Prison, Chennai.

The police, who suspect that bribes of up to ₹400 crore may have been collected, had sought five days of police custody to interrogate him. The court had earlier directed the police to file their response by November 2 to Mr. Poyyamozhi’s bail petition.

Mr. Poyyamozhi was brought from Puzhal prison and produced before the special court judge L.S. Sathyamoorthy on Monday (November 2, 2026).

During the hearing, the Judge questioned the police whether there was any objection to videographing the crucial parts of the interrogation. The police responded saying the entire proceedings could not be video-recorded. The former Minister’s counsel sought video recording of all interrogation proceedings, except the time spent transporting him.

Partly allowing the police plea, the Judge permitted the CCB to interrogate Mr. Poyyamozhi from 1 p.m. on November 2 until 5 p.m. on November 4, subject to conditions.

The police must first take him to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai and obtain a medical certificate confirming he is fit to undergo interrogation. A fresh medical fitness certificate must also be obtained and submitted to the court when he is produced after the completion of the interrogation.

The court permitted a lawyer representing him to remain present during questioning, provided the lawyer stays at a distance where he cannot hear the questions asked or the answers given. The interrogation must be video-recorded.

The judge also directed the police to allow Mr. Poyyamozhi to meet his lawyer for 10 minutes every evening. The police must not subject him to physical or mental harassment and must produce him before the court in good health after the interrogation.

The police were further directed to strictly comply with the court’s earlier orders concerning his food, medication and other requirements during the custody period. The court will hear his bail petition and plea seeking the return of certain electronic devices seized by police on November 5.

Chennai / court / crime / Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam / corruption & bribery