“Dayanidhi as Telecom Minister misused office in Aircel deal”
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday conducted simultaneous searches on the premises of the former Union Minister, Dayanidhi Maran, and his elder brother and Sun Network managing director, Kalanithi Maran, in connection with a case arising out of the Aircel-Maxis deal.
Special teams conducted the searches in New Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad, sources in the agency said. Earlier, the CBI registered a case against the Maran brothers as well as against Ralph Marshall and T. Ananda Krishnan of Maxis Communications, Malaysia. The agency has also named three private companies, including SUN Direct TV and Maxis Communications, in the First Information Report (FIR).
The CBI had been conducting a preliminary enquiry into the Aircel-Maxis deal in the past few months. The agency also named M/s Astro All Asia Networks, U.K., and other unknown officials and persons among the accused.
While Marshall is Director of M/s Astro All Asia Networks and M/s Maxis Communications Bhd, Malaysia, Ananda Krishnan heads M/s Usaha Tegas Sdn Bhd, Malaysia.
“The case has been registered under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 7, 12 and Section 13 (2) read with Section 13 (1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988,” CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said in Delhi.
In Chennai, searches were being conducted at the homes of the Marans in the Boat Club area and Murasoli Maran Towers that houses the Sun Network.
According to the FIR, Mr. Dayanidhi Maran, as Telecom Minister, allegedly misused his office to help Ananda Krishnan, a business tycoon from Malaysia, to acquire Indian telecom firm Aircel. The CBI has alleged that in return, Ananda Krishnan invested close to Rs.800 crore in Sun Network through a sister concern of the Maxis group.
The CBI also searched the premises of Suneeta Reddy, Executive Director of Apollo Hospitals, in Chennai and Hyderabad, even though she has not been named in the FIR. She had served as Chairperson of Aircel and invested in it.
In his statement to the CBI, the former Aircel owner, C. Sivasankaran, alleged that Mr. Dayanidhi Maran delayed grant of licences to Aircel. However, within months of Aircel changing hands to the Maxis group, Mr. Maran's Ministry issued 14 Letters of Intents, which were converted into licences in December 2006.
Mr. Dayanidhi Maran, who was Textiles Minister in UPA-II, resigned in July this year. The Marans were questioned by the CBI last month.
The former Minister has denied all charges, including pressuring Mr. Sivasankaran into selling Aircel.
Documents seized
Special teams that searched the premises of Mr. Dayanidhi Maran and others seized documents pertaining to the Aircel-Maxis deal, a CBI official said.
“The case was registered after prima facie offence was made out in the preliminary enquiry. For weeks, the agency gathered documentary evidence in connection with the allegations involving the former Union Minister, his brother and others. The teams have seized some documents pertaining to the case during the day-long search that ended around 5.30 p.m.,” the CBI official said.
According to a CBI official, when the team reached the house of the Maran brothers, a private security guard stopped them, saying he had no instructions to let them in. After about 20 minutes, the team managed to make their way in along with a household staff member, who entered the campus.
While Mr. Dayanidhi Maran was away, Mr. Kalanithi Maran was at home when the search took place, the official said.
This is a routine scene in indian politics!looting and get away from the eye of law has become very normal now a days.people"s mandate is being harrased to the core!If this would have happened in any islamic state or country like china ,atleast two or three of the would have been executed by this time!The country needs proper revamping,otherwise it difficult for common man to survive here!!
@ Richard Kamalanathan You have reproduced the press release of Maxis company issued in Malaysia. No documents of worth would have been found in the rides. But CBI will take that as an excuse for not releasing the Marans on Bail if they are jailed. So better for Marans to own up
Is it really necessary for 300 plus ISDN exchange to a Telecom Minister. This type of scandal is highly irritating and should be punished.
Your article,CBI names Marans in FIR,was a good to read. initially the allegations were bestowed on Dayanidhi Maran,he refused the charges,said he is innocent and will prove in the court. Such is the case whys should CBI ,Filed a FIR against him. Politicians always known for their double standard talk, which normally give promises before the election Campaign.Commonman's Money was looted in this Himalayan Scam.
Maran has acted against India's interests by favoring Malaysian Company. Malaysia has benefitted by the Aircel deal at the cost of India.
Too little,too late!What about the misuse of ISDN 323 Exchange? The same if resorted to by any Govt. servant by now, where will he/she be?
It is time Dayanidhi and Kalanidhi understand the harsh realities of life by shiftng their residence from Boat club road to Tihar. It is time the law of the land takes its own course and the toughest punishment handed out to these two.
It has always been with an awe and appreciation we used to look at the meteoric rise of the Maran brothers,Kalanidhi,the elder taking the family business to dizzy heights and Dayanidhi,the younger shining like the bright morning star in politics.We really went into raptures when Kalanidhi was adjudged the best young entrepreneur par excellence by the forum of theInternational business tycoons and also when the youthful and vibrant Dayanidhi was acclaimed as one of the most studious and dynamic ministers with innovative deliveries,again,par excellence.While we had very great hopes on these two youngsters that they would set many more unbreakable records in their respective domains,the recent news how both the brothers have trampled over laws and have misused the powers vested on them to amass wealth in the most inappropriate manner has come as a great shock to us.We feel avariciousness has preceded decency and decorum in their case which makes us yell in loud with anger. Et tu,Marans?
CBI seems to bolt the door after the horses have gone. It gives the Marans couple of months notice of their alleged crimes. They are not that dumb as not to cover their tracks. So the CBI is now unlikely to find enough evidence to book them under any charges. Whom are the authorities fooling? If they were serious in bringing the perpetrators of the scam to face justice, they should have been held as soon as they smelt something wrong.
What is point in searching 6 months after the initial allegations were made? I am sure by this time all incriminating stuff would have been destroyed or hidden away somewhere else.
In my view more serious is the news about 300 telephone connections given to Maran for his personal use! by telecom dept when he was communications minister! We are a great Nation! Aha
It may not be surprising if nothing comes out this CBI Adventure because of the inordinate delay. The alleged, if they were smart enough to commit such a mega fraud, they would be smarter to erase and tamper the trail and material evidences because of the time and opportunities given to them. In the event, crooks might emerge as saints, CBI yet again effeminate agency, TV Channels with greater TRP (SIC) Ratings and public seemingly numb but with a stronger hand of Vote.
I am finally seeing positive messaage. Though the law takes its own course, it requires to be actively pursued and if found guilty delinquent people should be punished for their misdemeanours. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts says the adage. This is a classic example!
Maxis has invested more than US$8bil (RM24bil) since it acquired Aircel to establish and develop a pan-Indian mobile telephony business, along the way building a subscriber base of more than 50 million customers. The takeover of Aircel by Maxis dates back to December 2005 when Aircel was owned by entrepreneur C. Sivasankaran, who accused Dayanidhi Maran of pressuring him to sign a deal with Maxis.Indeed, Maxis paid the asking price demanded by the seller, Siva Ventures Limited (owned by C. Sivasankaran). Furthermore, Maxis recently fully successfully defended international arbitration proceedings brought against it by the former owner of Aircel, Siva Ventures, whose claims against MCB were dismissed in their entirety. FIR would enable CBI to officially request documents relating to the case from Malaysia and only if there was enough evidence against the parties named could the CBI press charges in Indian courts. We will wait to see the FIR.
Its a commendable step by the CBI but, I feel its very very late to be initiated, but never too late to do. The delay in this case and other DMK related Cases is evident that they were holding the investigating agencies strong during their rule in TN with their Money power and political hooliganism, but anyways some fine day this has to happen, the culprits must be brought to Books. The delay in our judicial system is frustrating and it should be changed in time to come.
We should also make in account of Mr. Manmohan Singh our PM. He should have taken a part of the deals in the 2G spectrum. Here Mr. Raja is made a scapegoat.
Unfortunately C B I targets only non congress people, though a welcome sign so far as investigation is concerned, it need not spare all involved or shield some.
Please remember they are honorable ministers and how come you can suspect them. Truly if they are guilty sack them, which will be an example to others and generations to come for next generations
if the CBI is smart enough to go after the maran brothers, how come they are not smart enough to go after chidambaram -- atleast there is no harm in investigating him to find out if he has any skeletons in the cupboard.. i hope the supreme court soon issues directions in this regard .. we need several avatars of anna hazare - one for each state -- let us boot out the congress in the elections and hold BJP accountable if they are unwittingly the lucky beneficiaries of the congress debacle
We all wonder that how the Rs.800 crores,swallowed culprits are still scot-free without going to Tihar jail. Why both are moving outside without being arrested by CBI yet. At the same time, for pocketing Rs.200 cores, many persons were arrested without getting bail yet. It is the eight wonder!
I am from Andhra Pradesh, anytime I watch a new tamil dubbed movie it says Produced by or presented by Kalanithi or Stalin, these people were no where in movie or media business a few years ago, looks like all the black and illicit money they made is being diverted into these high budget movies.
2G cases getting momentum only at election times. Wish to end this case soon. Get all money from all those culprits as compensation and punishment for all loses to our nation! This should not happen again in any form! Grow India!
This case should be treated with diligence and utmost care so that the amount, the country lost because of the unlawful actions of The Maran Brothers, should be brought to the Government. The people who are willing to enter politics should be made aware of the severe consequences that will be there for any anti-country activities and unlawful behaviour. All the culprits should be brought before the Court of Law and should be given due punishments. The culprits should know one thing that In India, The parliment is not supreme, but only the Consitituion (The People) is SUPREME.
Mr.Maran has become 16h richest person in india. He was nowhere in 1990. How come Manmohan singh would have been so innocent that he allowed someone in doing a specific business to became a central minister for the same domain?
Equity and justice demands that all those connected with the scam directly and indirectly, irrespective of their clout and status; should be taken to task, if necessary under section 409 also, and the court proceedings should be completed expeditiously, so that people of India sustain confidence in the rule of law and the inherent force of non-violence.
Can anyone explain how cabinet ministers can indulge in alleged corrupt activities spread over a long period of time without the Prime Minister and the Cabinet never having knowledge of what was going on? Even if the regular communication channels are not operating, wouldn't the grapevine have keept the powers that be informed about what was going on? However what is more surprising is that the Indian media is not asking such questions! Is it "paid" inactivity and silence?
As per our politicicians statement "Law will take its course". The case has been registered, but I can not expect what will be the conclusion of this case. This is India and our political leaders are simply playing with Law. But in this case it should not be occured again. No other political leaders should be dared in future after seeing the result of this case. Best of Luck to CBI.
DMK through its leaders is facing politico-administrative wrath from state and central govt.Irony or the beauty of it they seem to have taken a multi million rupee ride indirectly through state exchequer in the hope of being infallible.
UPA II seems to have only Tamil Nadu politicians to showcase for their.....
Yet another happy day for India and the supremacy of its constitution, but it should be the most happiest day for Team Anna and everyone who supports it, without the kind of awakening generated by Team Anna this could not have happened, now what we want is the logical conclusion of this case which should include seizure of wealth. The whole family must be brought under the scanner.
At last, the Marans are in the CBI dragnet. But don't underestimate the power of their money and clout; they would bounce back unless the anti-corruption movement puts a check to them.
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