File photo of former union communications minister Dayanidhi Maran.
The fate of former union communications minister Dayanidhi Maran, accused in the case relating to the Aircel-Maxis deal, will now be decided by the Narendra Modi government.
Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran, whose opinion had been sought by the Central Bureau of Investigation or the CBI, to resolve the differences within the investigating agency on whether there was enough evidence to prosecute the DMK leader, has refused to intervene, arguing that "it would be most appropriate that the matter is considered by the new government."
The Solicitor General's intervention was sought after differences between the CBI director and the agency's Director of Prosecution led to a delay in filing of the chargesheet in the case. Director Ranjit Sinha felt there was insufficient evidence to implicate Mr Maran. The Director of Prosecution and the agency's additional director differed. (
Differences Within CBI Delays Chargesheet Against Former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran)
The Solicitor General's refusal to intercede was also prompted by the fact that the CBI director's note seeking his opinion was "unsigned and undated."
"Therefore, it would not be appropriate to base any opinion on an unsigned note of the Director, CBI," Mr Parasaran wrote in reply.
When asked to comment, CBI spokesperson Kanchan Prasad told NDTV that they were yet to receive Mohan Parasaran's letter. While they accepted there may be a difference of opinion, they said it was part of CBI's running to forward such differences to the law officers for advice on how to proceed. Why the note was unsigned, Ms Prasad said was because of classified documents not being passed on and the director's notes being retyped and sent.
The CBI had in October, 2011 filed an FIR in the case relating to the Aircel-Maxis deal. The investigating agency had alleged that Mr Maran had misused his office to help a Malaysian entrepreneur, T Ananda Krishnan acquire one of the biggest telecom firms, Aircel. In return, the Ananda Krishnan-owned company Maxis invested around Rs 650 crores in the Sun TV Network, run by the Marans.
The Supreme Court, which is monitoring the investigation in the case, was on May 1 informed about the delay in filing the chargesheet. The case will now come up for hearing on August 4.
Mr Maran, a senior DMK leader, had contested the Lok Sabha polls from Chennai Central, but was defeated by the AIADMK. He had been representing the constituency since 2004.(
Meet AIADMK's Giant Killer Who Defeated DMK's Dayanidhi Maran)