New Delhi:
The CBI has told the Supreme Court that it plans to file a formal case soon against former minister Dayanidhi Maran for misusing his office when he was Telecom Minister.
Mr Maran is being investigated for allegedly pressuring the former owner of Aircel to sell his company to an T Ananda Krishnan, an industrialist from Malaysia. Mr Ananda Krishnan is known to be close to Mr Maran and his brother, Kalanidhi. After he bought Aircel, the entrepreneur invested crores of rupees in Kalanidhi's company, Sun Networks.
The complaint against Mr Maran was filed by C Sivasankaran, who alleges that as Telecom Minister, Mr Maran did not sanction licenses critical for his business and coerced him to sell Aircel to Mr Ananda Krishnan in 2005.
Sources have told NDTV the CBI has found evidence of criminal misconduct against Mr Maran, and found evidence of quid pro quo in the Aircel-Maxis deal.
Mr Maran was replaced by A Raja as Telecom Minister, who is now in jail for selling mobile network licenses and spectrum at throwaway prices in 2008 to companies that were ineligible.