Ex-Minister Mahesh Arrested; Stalin Alleges Political Revenge
Opposition leader's strong reaction
Chennai, October 26: Reacting sharply to the arrest of former Tamil Nadu school education minister Ambil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, DMK president M K Stalin on Monday said the action reflected a political agenda. He claimed the government was trying to shift public attention from a decline in law and order and corruption in governance.
Arrest after High Court order
The Central Crime Branch arrested Mahesh after the Madras High Court rejected his anticipatory bail petition. The case alleges that he cheated private schools of about Rs 100 crore by promising them recognition and statutory approvals.
Questioned for hours
He was taken to the Chennai Police Commissioner's office after his arrest. Central Crime Branch officials questioned him for more than two hours.
Stalin's allegations
Stalin said Mahesh had been cooperating with the investigation, yet the government had acted against him out of political vengeance. He added that the administration had expected the arrest to temporarily distract people from its failures.
Linking the arrest to governance concerns
The DMK leader connected the police action to what he called a worsening law and order situation and rising corruption within the ruling establishment. He argued that the arrest would neither address public complaints nor protect the government from growing public discontent.
Legal challenge promised
Stalin made it clear that the allegations against Mahesh would be contested through the legal process. His remarks combined a commitment to legal recourse with a harsh political attack on the arrest.
What the case is about
The allegations centre on money allegedly collected from private school managements in exchange for assurances of recognition and permissions. The probe is still continuing, and the rejection of anticipatory bail does not establish guilt.
Sequence of events
The arrest came after an earlier High Court ruling on the same day. Investigators then took Mahesh into custody for questioning.
DMK's position
For the DMK, Stalin's response portrays the episode as an attempt to target a former minister for political purposes. He repeated that the government would not succeed in diverting public anger through arrests and said Mahesh would face the case lawfully. His statement signals that the party continues to support Mahesh while the investigation proceeds.