SRM Group Chairman TR Pachamuthu was arrested on Friday in connection with an alleged medical admission scam, reported PTI. The founder of the group was arrested from Chennai. Pachamuthu's party, Indiya Jananayaga Katchi, is an ally of the National Democratic Alliance that is in power at the Centre.

The Chennai Police have booked him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for his involvement in the multi-crore scam, including cheating. A senior police official told the news agency, “Pachamuthu has been arrested by CCB [Central Crime Branch] sleuths."

The scam came to light after parents of several students lodged complaints against the group-owned SRM University in the Tamil Nadu capital alleging that the institute was taking money for admissions to its medical courses. As many as 100 such complaints were filed against the university. Film producer Mandhan, who has been missing since May, is the key accused in the case. He allegedly collected huge sums of money from parents for seats at the university.

Pachamuthu has strongly denied the allegations and held that he has no links with the producer. He has also said admissions at his institute are done transparently.