DMK chief and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday attacked Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay following Crime Branch searches at premises linked to former school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, alleging that the action was politically motivated and intended to divert attention from problems confronting the state. Stalin accused the government of targeting Opposition leaders through investigations while claiming that Vijay was “busy shooting in London” instead of addressing issues at home. The remarks came after the Chennai Central Crime Branch carried out searches in connection with alleged irregularities in approvals granted to private schools during the previous DMK government.
Stalin targets Vijay
Stalin described the searches as an act of “political vendetta” and said the DMK would challenge the action through legal means. He maintained that raids against Opposition leaders would not silence the party and that allegations against its members would ultimately have to withstand judicial scrutiny. Listing issues he said were affecting Tamil Nadu, Stalin referred to protests over power cuts, an agitation by fishermen in Pattinapakkam, demonstrations by families of people missing in Nepal and an alleged shortage of Aavin milk. He also referred to the death of a government bus driver during a Pillayar Chaturthi procession in Chennai and alleged harassment of a woman police officer by a TVK functionary in Ayanavaram.
Raids at multiple locations
The political confrontation followed searches by the Chennai Central Crime Branch at premises linked to Poyyamozhi, including his residence, as investigators examined allegations concerning private school approvals during his tenure as school education minister. Searches were conducted at several locations in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli as investigators sought documents and other material connected with the case. The probe concerns allegations of corruption in the process of granting approvals to private schools during the previous administration. The allegations remain under investigation and have not been established.
Former minister under probe
Poyyamozhi, who served as school education minister in the previous DMK government, is among the prominent party leaders facing scrutiny in the case. Investigators are examining documents and transactions linked to private school managements as part of the inquiry. The searches have triggered a fresh political confrontation between the DMK and the Vijay-led government, with Stalin portraying the investigation as an attempt to target political opponents and divert public attention. Authorities, meanwhile, are continuing their investigation into the alleged irregularities.