India, Sept. 16 -- The Central Crime Branch (CCB) on Wednesday conducted simultaneous searches at premises linked to former School Education Minister and DMK leader Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli in connection with an alleged Rs 100-crore private school approval fraud case, police said.

Searches were carried out at six locations, including four premises linked to Poyyamozhi and two associated with his aide Valadi Karthik, officials said.

After an eight-hour search at his Tiruchirappalli residence, Poyyamozhi asserted his innocence, saying he had "no guilt and no fear".

The DMK leader said a team of more than 20 officials searched his residence from 7.40 am to 3.40 pm following allegations repeatedly raised by a ...