FILE photo: Former union minister Dayanidhi Maran (left) and his brother Kalanithi Maran, the founder of Sun TV
Former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi and six others were charge-sheeted by the CBI today in the case of an alleged kickback or quid pro quo in the sale of telecom firm Aircel to the Maxis Group in 2006.
The CBI filed its charge-sheet before a special court in Delhi and submitted nine trunks full of documents, including annexures and copies of the charge-sheet. The court will take up the charges on September 11.
The CBI alleges that Dayanidhi Maran misused his office in 2006 to force the sale of cellphone operator Aircel to Maxis, owned by T Ananda Krishnan. In return, the CBI claims, the Malaysian group invested nearly Rs. 650 crores in the Sun TV Group, owned by Mr Maran's brother, Kalanithi.
C Sivasankaran, who owned Aircel at the time, alleged that Mr Maran ensured the telecom firm was not given critical licenses as a pressure tactic. After he eventually caved in, he claims, Aircel received clearances at lightning speed.
The CBI charge-sheet also names Ananda Krishnan and Ralph Marshall of Maxis, and four companies, including Sun Direct TV and Malaysia's Maxis Communication Berhad.
South Asia Entertainment Holding, Mauritius, and ASTRO All Asia Network have also been named.
They have been all charged with criminal conspiracy and under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court rejected Dayanidhi Maran's petition to stop the CBI from filing a charge-sheet on grounds that the investigation is still on.