Overview
- The Chennai Central Crime Branch summoned and questioned former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh on Friday in a probe that the CCB has registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
- CCB teams conducted coordinated searches at nine locations on Wednesday and seized 118 documents plus 18 mobile phones, laptops, pen drives, hard drives, a tablet and an iPad for forensic examination.
- Three men — B.T. Arasakumar, Suresh and Raja — were arrested earlier in the investigation, with Arasakumar later held under the Goondas Act and the others in judicial custody.
- Police say their probe has so far identified about ₹18 crore linked to payments from private school managements while several media reports cite a broader alleged total of roughly ₹100 crore and involvement of 177 schools.
- Investigators are examining bank accounts tied to accused persons, family members and associates and may issue further summonses as forensic review of documents and digital devices continues, a development that could widen the case and affect school approvals and officials tied to the Education Department.