Tweet
Probe over, CBI soon to file chargesheet against Marans
With questioning of Kalanidhi Maran late last month in the Aircel-Maxis deal case, the CBI has wrapped up probe into the scam within the country. The agency, however, is awaiting response of a Letters Rogatory sent to Malaysia and a questionnaire sent to T Ananda Krishnan, the owner of Maxis to file a chargesheet in the case.
While Kalanidhi was questioned last month, his brother and disgraced former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi was quizzed by the agency in the third week of July. Both of the brothers are accused in the Aircel-Maxis deal case.
The CBI is awaiting execution of the LR to Malaysia through which the agency has sought details pertaining to the meetings of the Board of Directors of Maxis for acquisition of Aircel, Maxis’ balance sheet and communication about the acquisition to the Malaysian Stock Exchange and payments made to Aircel as well as Sun TV Direct.
Simultaneously, the agency has sent a detailed questionnaire to Krishnan seeking clarifications about the company’s investments in Sun TV and information related to acquisition of Aircel and payments made thereof, CBI sources said.
On a question on how soon the CBI is going to file the chargesheet in the case, a senior CBI official told The Pioneer, “We have to wait for the LR in Malaysia to be executed before a chargesheet is filed in the case.”
Maxis is alleged to have transferred about `700 crore to Sun TV owned by Maran family after its deal with Aircel and the agency suspects it to be bribe money.
The CBI had registered a regular case after Preliminary Enquiry into the alleged irregularities in the award of 2G licences between 2001 and 2007. Dayanidhi’s tenure came under the scanner after prima facie involvement of irregularities by the disgraced Minister.
Aircel boss C Sivasankaran had alleged that Dayanidhi had pressured him into selling his company to Maxis. Dayanidhi was the Telecom Minister when Sivasankaran had applied for the 2G licences but was allegedly arm-twisted into selling his stakes to Maxis.
During examination by the CBI, Sivasankaran has told the sleuths that the Maran brothers had allegedly issued life threats forcing him to sell his 74 per cent stake in Aircel to Maxis, a firm owned by a Malaysia-based tycoon. He has provided the CBI a list of over 10 witnesses, mostly based abroad, to buttress his point that he was threatened by the Maran brothers and most of them have already been examined by the CBI.
With questioning of Kalanidhi Maran late last month in the Aircel-Maxis deal case, the CBI has wrapped up probe into the scam within the country. The agency, however, is awaiting response of a Letters Rogatory sent to Malaysia and a questionnaire sent to T Ananda Krishnan, the owner of Maxis to file a chargesheet in the case.
While Kalanidhi was questioned last month, his brother and disgraced former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi was quizzed by the agency in the third week of July. Both of the brothers are accused in the Aircel-Maxis deal case.
The CBI is awaiting execution of the LR to Malaysia through which the agency has sought details pertaining to the meetings of the Board of Directors of Maxis for acquisition of Aircel, Maxis’ balance sheet and communication about the acquisition to the Malaysian Stock Exchange and payments made to Aircel as well as Sun TV Direct.
Simultaneously, the agency has sent a detailed questionnaire to Krishnan seeking clarifications about the company’s investments in Sun TV and information related to acquisition of Aircel and payments made thereof, CBI sources said.
On a question on how soon the CBI is going to file the chargesheet in the case, a senior CBI official told The Pioneer, “We have to wait for the LR in Malaysia to be executed before a chargesheet is filed in the case.”
Maxis is alleged to have transferred about `700 crore to Sun TV owned by Maran family after its deal with Aircel and the agency suspects it to be bribe money.
The CBI had registered a regular case after Preliminary Enquiry into the alleged irregularities in the award of 2G licences between 2001 and 2007. Dayanidhi’s tenure came under the scanner after prima facie involvement of irregularities by the disgraced Minister.
Aircel boss C Sivasankaran had alleged that Dayanidhi had pressured him into selling his company to Maxis. Dayanidhi was the Telecom Minister when Sivasankaran had applied for the 2G licences but was allegedly arm-twisted into selling his stakes to Maxis.
During examination by the CBI, Sivasankaran has told the sleuths that the Maran brothers had allegedly issued life threats forcing him to sell his 74 per cent stake in Aircel to Maxis, a firm owned by a Malaysia-based tycoon. He has provided the CBI a list of over 10 witnesses, mostly based abroad, to buttress his point that he was threatened by the Maran brothers and most of them have already been examined by the CBI.
