₹100-crore private schools ‘cheating’ case: B.T. Arasakumar challenges detention under Goondas Act

A habeas corpus petition (HCP) has been filed in the Madras High Court challenging the preventive detention of B.T. Arasakumar (59), under the Goondas Act on the basis of a complaint accusing him of having collected around ₹100 crore from various private school managements across Tamil Nadu during the previous DMK regime.

A Division Bench of Justices Anita Sumanth and Sunder Mohan on Monday (August 10, 2026) ordered notice, returnable by four weeks, to the Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police on the HCP filed by the detainee’s wife who contended no threat had been caused to public order necessitating his preventive detention.

On June 23, C. Elangovan, secretary of Tamil Nadu Private Schools Federation, had lodged a complaint with the Commissioner of Police levelling serious charges against Arasakumar who was accused of having collected large sums of money by running an unregistered association named ‘Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association’.

According to the complainant, the detainee had collected money from private school managements by promising to offer services such as obtaining approvals for upgrading schools, gaining permanent recognition, securing building plan approvals and so on “using his proximity” with the then ruling dispensation.

He was also accused of having threatened the private school managements of dire consequences if they reveal about the transactions in public. Hence, the police had registered a First Information Report, arrested and subjected him to custodial interrogation and then invoked the Goondas Act too.

Assailing the preventive detention order passed by the Commissioner of Police A. Amalraj on July 11, the petitioner said her husband had been taking efforts for long to get the ‘Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association’ registered but it could not be done due to existence of another association with the same name.

She claimed the complaint was the result of a civil dispute between office-bearers of different associations representing private schools in the State and it would have no bearing on maintenance of public order which alone could be a reason to invoke the Goondas Act for preventive detention.

“The detenu is aged about 59 years and has been continuously cooperating with the investigation. He is suffering from severe neck and knee pain, diabetes and hypertension and has remained in custody for a considerable period,” the petitioner said and sought interim bail too pending disposal of the HCP.