Filmmaker Madhan Arrested In Alleged Multi-Crore Scam In SRM University

CHENNAI:  After an intensive manhunt spanning nearly six months, film producer Madhan, allegedly involved in a multi-crore scam in SRM University medical admission in which 123 persons were allegedly cheated, was arrested on Monday, police said.

He was arrested in the textile city of Tirupur where he had arrived on Sunday night to meet a woman associate after trying to escape from the law by hiding in several states, including Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Manipur, they said.

The managing partner of Vendar Movies, his arrest brings the curtains down on police's hot pursuit for him that criss-crossed several states and multiple cities.

Special police teams on the lookout for him in many cities found he had purchased properties at Roorkee in Uttarkhand and that some of his associates had helped him in his endeavour.

It was found a woman was in touch with Mr Madhan and she was questioned, they said.

The probe also revealed that Mr Madhan was remitting money to his associate in Imphal and that another man who had visited the Manipur man had returned to Tirupur, clearly establishing a link among them.

Subsequently, when Mr Madhan came to Tirupur to visit the woman associate, he was arrested, police said.

The medical admission scandal's lid broke open in May last when Mr Madhan disappeared mysteriously, dragging SRM University into the picture.

He went into hiding on May 28



after writing an emotional note allegedly claiming that he was going to end his life in Varanasi, "where if a person dies, will have no rebirth."

Mr Madhan had also allegedly acknowledged having collected several crore of Rupees from parents for their wards aspiring for MBBS seats in SRM varsity.

On June 1 this year, soon after Mr Madhan's disappearance, one Dr Jayachandran lodged a complaint with police that he had paid Rs. 53 lakh to him for an MBBS seat for his son in SRM varsity.

The money was remitted to Mr Madhan through his associate Babu of Indiya Jananayaka Katchi, he had said, adding he neither got the seat for his son nor the money back.

The police probe found that Mr Madhan and his associates were allegedly involved in cheating 123 aspirants for under and post graduate courses in medicine in SRM group of institutions to the tune of Rs. 84.27 crore.

Even as police began its search for Mr Madan, six of his associates, including Dr Bargavan Pachaimuthu, medical wing secretary of IJK, were arrested in connection with the case.

Finally, days after Madras High Court questioned police as to why SRM group founder-chairman Pachamuthu had not been interrogated in the case, he was arrested.

The SRM chief Pachamuthu-led Indiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK) is an ally of NDA at the Centre.

He was booked under various IPC sections, including Section 420 (cheating).