Former Union Minister of Communication and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran appeared before a Special Court for CBI cases in Chennai on Monday, along with his elder brother and chairman of Sun Network Kalanithi Maran and other accused, in connection with an illegal telephone exchange case.
Recording their appearance, Special Judge S. Baskaran adjourned the case to May 22 for serving the copies of the charge sheet to the accused.
According to the prosecution, a number of high-end telecommunication facilities were illegally installed at the residence of the then Union Minister in Chennai under the service category reserved for BSNL employees. Bills were not raised for these lines during the period from 2004 to 2007, causing a financial loss of ₹1.78 crore to the exchequer.
The CBI alleged that during June 2004 to December 2006, as many as 364 telephone numbers/lines were installed at Mr. Maran’s Gopalapuram residence here. Later on, 353 telephone lines were installed at his Boat Club Road residence in Chennai.
On July 23, 2013, the CBI registered a case in New Delhi against Mr. Maran, the then Chief General Managers of BSNL, the then Additional Private Secretary to the Union Minister and officials of Sun Network, under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
