File photo: Former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran (left) and his brother Kalanithi Maran
A day after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a chargesheet against the Maran brothers in the Aircel-Maxis deal, saying there is enough evidence to prosecute them, there is still no word from former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanidhi.
There are conflicting reports about their current location. While some claim the brothers are travelling abroad, others say they are very much in Chennai.
The CBI alleges that Mr Maran coerced mobile major Aircel founder Sivasankaran to sell his stakes to Anandha Krishnan, the Head of Malaysia-based Maxis. As a quid-pro-quo, the agency claims, Maxis had invested around Rs 650 crore in Sun DTH headed by Dayanidhi Maran's elder brother Kalanidhi.
However, in the past the former telecom minister has denied these allegations.
DMK leaders, including its treasurer MK Stalin, refrained from commenting on the issue. Sources in the party however say "it is for the Maran brothers to clarify, the party has nothing to do in this issue".
Any chargesheet by the CBI against the Maran brothers could be a double whammy to the DMK which had suffered a huge defeat in Lok Sabha elections, largely due to the 2G spectrum scam allegations it is fighting.
DMK chief Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi and former telecom minister A Raja were behind bars for six months and 15 months respectively. Investigators allege that Kalaignar TV, run by Mr Karunanidhi's family, received a bribe of Rs 214 crore for grant of 2G licences by Mr Raja, which the DMK claims was a loan repaid later with interest.