Chennai: Chennai special court for prevention of Ccorruption cases on Monday permitted three days custodial interrogation of former school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi in connection with the ₹100 crore private schools recognition cheating case.
Anbil Mahesh may meet his counsel for 10 minutes every evening, the court said and directed that the police should not subject him to physical or mental harassment. The ex-minister shall be produced before the court again on Nov 4. Anbil Mahesh was arrested on Oct 26 after Madras high court denied him anticipatory bail.
Special judge L S Sathyamorthy permitted a lawyer representing Anbil Mahesh to remain present during the interrogation, but the lawyer shall stay at a distance where the questions asked and answers given cannot be heard. The interrogation must be videographed. The judge passed the order on an application moved by Chennai Central Crime Branch (CCB) police. Though CCB sought five days of custody, the court has granted only three days.
He further argued that the custody application was moved to thwart his bail application. CCB submitted that custodial interrogation of the former minister was necessary to establish the money trail, examine the properties held by Anbil Mahesh and his family members, identify benami assets, and investigate the role of former MLA Muthukumar in the crime.
The bail plea filed by Anbil Mahesh and his petition seeking the return of certain electronic devices seized during the investigation will be heard on Nov 5, the judge said. Pointing out that he had already answered more than 200 questions and furnished documents sought by the investigating officers, he contended that custodial interrogation is unnecessary.
“On Sept 16, CCB conducted searches at my properties, and I was questioned for nearly eight hours,” he added.
Earlier, opposing the custody application, Anbil Mahesh submitted that he had already cooperated with the investigation.