The Madras High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government on the bail petition of former school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and directed the State to file its counter by November 17, in the case over an alleged Rs 100 crore scam involving the registration of private schools in the state.

Source: Live Law

Justice V. Lakshminarayanan issued the notice in Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi v. The State (Crl. O.P. No. 33116 of 2026). The court has not ruled on the merits of the bail plea; it adjourned the hearing after State Public Prosecutor John Sathyan, assisted by Additional Public Prosecutor Arun Anbumani, sought time to respond.

Source: LawChakra

A new stage after the special court's refusal

The High Court step is the latest development in the case, not a repeat of the earlier hearing. On November 10, a special court in Chennai had dismissed Mahesh's bail plea, observing that the material on record showed his prima facie involvement, that public interest was paramount, and that releasing him at the initial stage of the investigation would not be proper. His move to the High Court follows that dismissal.

Mahesh has been in custody since October 26, 2026, when he was arrested shortly after the High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in the same case.

What the case alleges

According to the prosecution case reported in the earlier anticipatory-bail hearing, large sums were allegedly collected from private school managements in return for permanent recognition, upgradation and planning approvals, with the money allegedly received in the name of a 'party fund'. The State told that hearing that 177 victims had been identified and that about Rs 400 crore was allegedly collected in all. These are allegations by investigators; they have not been proved, and Mahesh is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless a court finds otherwise.

Separately, Mahesh has also moved the High Court seeking to quash the case against him; that petition is scheduled to proceed separately later this month. What happens next in the bail matter turns on the State's counter, due by November 17.