Aircel-Maxis case: HC responds from Maran Brothers to CBI request

New Delhi, May 22: Former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanidhi Maran and others issued a notice on the Civil Bureau of Investigation (CBI) petition challenging their inquiry into the case of Aircel-Maxis. Justice S.P. Garg sought response from the Maran brothers and others on the CBI's plea, and posted the matter for hearing on August 29. The CBI has challenged a February 2 trial court order dropping all charges brought by both CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against them. The trial court had said that "no prima facie case warranting framing of charges against any of the accused is made out" on the basis of the materials placed on record before it.

After the ED approached the High Court against acquittal of the accused, the court last week sought response from the Maran brothers and others in its plea. The CBI had booked the Maran brothers, companies Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) and South Asia Entertainment Holdings Ltd in its case. The Aircel-Maxis case is related to allegations that Dayanidhi Maran, as Minister in the UPA-I government, used his influence to help Malaysian businessman T.A. Ananda Krishnan buy Aircel by coercing its owner Sivasankaran to part with his stake. Sivasankaran alleged that Maran favoured the Maxis Group in the takeover of his company. In return, he alleged, the company made investments through Astro Network in a company stated to be owned by the Maran family. The money was paid in two companies namely SDTPL and SAFL, which were controlled by Kalanithi Maran. The probe revealed that promoters of the SDTPL are Kalanithi Maran and his wife Kavery Kalanithi.

The chargesheet was filed under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and other relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The cases were registered against by both the CBI and ED the two accused and they were discharged in both cases. In the money laundering case, the Brothers of Case, Cavali Kalanidhi, SAFL Managing Director K. Shanmugam and the companies - SAFL and SDTPL - were found guilty. Dianaidhi Maran has been named by Mauritius companies for Rs. 742.58 crore was paid in the ED chargesheet.