Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, a former MLA and Minister, sought anticipatory bail in a corruption case (Crime No. 64/2026, CCB-II Chennai) where he was accused of collecting money from 177 private school managements by promising government approvals. The court examined the evolving jurisprudence on anticipatory bail under Section 438 CrPC/BNS in corruption cases, noting that while the Sibbia principle upholds personal liberty, the Anil Sharma line of Supreme Court decisions treats corruption cases as a 'class apart' requiring custodial interrogation, especially involving influential persons. The court found that the investigation was at a nascent stage, a co-accused (A2) was absconding and allegedly sheltered by the petitioner, 177 victims had recorded statements, and money trails needed to be uncovered through custodial interrogation. Given the petitioner's high political and administrative position, the risk of witness tampering, and the gravity of the economic offence, the court declined to grant anticipatory bail.