Andhra Pradesh’s first private University by SRM Group was launched by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu at Neerukonda village in Mangalagiri Mandal in Amaravati. Venkaiah speaking at the launch said that Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth) will arrive where there is Saraswathi (goddess of Education). However contrary to the reports SRM university would let a student in only if they have lot of money.

The founder and chancellor of SRM University, T R Pachamuthu alias Pari Vendhar has been facing charges in several cases. He was arrested in August2016 for cheating gullible students to the tune of Rs 75 crore. About 110 parents approached the police saying that they have paid Rs 50 lakh each for admitting their kin into the MBBS course.

Also, as of May 2017, he was given a stay on a cheque bounce case. As per the complaint, Pachamuthu who is one of the partners in Vendhar Movies Production, borrowed Rs. 7.50 crore from the complainant. In return, the firm had issued two cheques for 2.60 crore which bounced.

He is the President and founder of Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK) political party in Tamil Nadu. IJK contested in the 2014 General Elections through an alliance with the BJP-led-NDA. Key BJP Ministers of state protested against the alliance.

Nonetheless, famous Perkins and Will architecture firm designed SRM campus. It has big tie-ups with international universities like MIT and UC Berkeley college of engineering in USA. The classes for four Engineering courses are set to commence classes from August with 300 engineering students and 30 faculty members.