₹100-crore private schools fraud case: Madras High Court quashes Arasakumar’s detention under Goondas Act

The Madras High Court has overturned an order detaining B.T. Arasakumar, president of an unregistered private schools association, under the Goondas Act for allegedly collecting over ₹100 crore from school managements. Justices N. Sathish Kumar and K. Rajasekar dismissed the detention order, citing a delay in addressing Arasakumar's request to revoke it.

The court agreed with senior counsel P. Wilson, emphasizing that such representations should be considered promptly when an individual's personal liberty is at stake. Arasakumar was accused of collecting money from private schools under the promise of services like securing approvals for school upgrades and building plans. The challenge to the detention order was also based on the lack of evidence of any threat to public order caused by Arasakumar's alleged activities.