Tamil Nadu Minister Nirmal Kumar has alleged that DMK leader and former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi collected more than Rs 400 crore from schools in the name of party funds in a single year, by demanding money for issuing certificates.Reacting to Mahesh's arrest in a Rs 100-crore bribery case involving private schools, Nirmal Kumar, a TVK leader, claimed that school managements were made to pay for certificates and that the money collected was routed as party funds.“We have arrested a minister who obtained more than Rs 400 crore in the name of party funds. This is a big humiliation for the DMK.

There is no place they haven't touched for money. They demanded money to issue certificates and collected it from schools.

Now, schools have come forward boldly to file complaints. They made Rs 400 crore in one year using certificates,” he said.The TVK minister also criticised DMK president and former Chief Minister MK Stalin, alleging that he had portrayed the arrest as politically motivated and an act of revenge.

WHAT IS THE CASE AGAINST ANBIL MAHESH?Mahesh was arrested by the Greater Chennai Police's Central Crime Branch (CCB) on Monday in connection with an alleged Rs 100-crore corruption case involving approvals and statutory clearances for private schools. His arrest came shortly after the Madras High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition.The case centres on allegations that money was collected from more than 1,000 private school managements in exchange for permanent recognition and other administrative clearances.

The alleged collections were made in the guise of party funds during Mahesh's tenure as School Education Minister between 2021 and 2026. The CCB has registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to investigate the suspected financial trail.The allegations are under investigation and have not been established in court.- Ends