SRM group chief Pachamuthu arrested over admission scandal

Chennai, Aug 26 (PTI) Founder chairman of SRM Group ofeducational institutions T R Pachamuthu was arrested heretoday in connection with an alleged scandal in medicaladmissions involving crores of rupees, police said. "Pachamuthu has been arrested by CCB (Central CrimeBranch) sleuths," a top police official told PTI. Pachamuthu, whose Indiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK) is anally of NDA at the Centre, has been booked under IPC sectionsincluding 420 (cheating), the official said. The Chancellor of the SRM University headquartered nearhere, was arrested in connection with more than 100 complaintsfrom parents related to "transactions" involving payment ofmoney running into several crores for getting admissions tomedical courses in SRM institutions. Parents had alleged they were duped after being promisedmedical seats in colleges run by the SRM Group, and a case wasfiled by police. Film producer Madhan, who purportedly acted as an agentand collected huge sums of money from parents, is the keyaccused in the case and has been missing since May last. Pachamuthu had strongly denied any link whatsoever withMadhan and said all admissions were being done transparently. When Madhan mysteriously disappeared on May 27, hisfamily members wanted Pachamuthu to be inquired over the issueand the matter also went to Madras High Court. Police had named Madhan, perceived to be close toPachamuthu, and his associates in the FIR on the basis ofthe complaints. PTI VGN VSSRY