In a shot in the arm for the Kalanithi Maran-promoted Sun TV network, Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi has said the refusal by the Ministry of Home Affairs to grant security licence to the media group is “not legal.”
Giving his opinion to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Mr. Rohatgi, in his constitutional capacity as the government’s top law officer, has said the decision to deny clearance to 33 channels of the network — one of the largest media houses in the country — is unnecessary given that the CBI and the ED have already been investigating corruption charges against its promoters.
“My grounds for finding the denial wrong are that it is not legal, and such action can be taken only when there is a threat to the security of the nation,” Mr. Rohatgi told The Hindu on Friday.
Under Article 76 of the Constitution, it is the duty of the Attorney-General, who possesses the same qualifications as a Supreme Court judge, to give legal advice to the Centre. The advice has great persuasive value, but is not binding. The Attorney-General’s opinion may be put up for an inter-ministerial discussion.
Maran’s letter
This turn of events comes shortly after the Home Ministry said it would not reply to Sun Group chairman Kalanithi Maran’s letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, requesting that he intervene in the matter.
Kalanithi Maran questioned denial of security clearance
Mr. Kalanithi Maran is reported to have said in his letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh that his company was never involved in any anti-national or criminal activity, and there was no justification for refusal of security clearance to the channels of his network.
He reasoned that most TV companies had criminal cases pending against them or against their directors or promoters or their group companies, but only his company was singled out and denied security clearance.
The Maran brothers are facing a CBI probe into the alleged allotment of 300 high-speed BSNL telephone lines to the Chennai residence of the former Communications and Information Technology Minister, Dayanidhi Maran, which were extended to Mr. Kalanithi Maran’s channel.
There are two other pending criminal probes against the Sun TV Network and Mr. Kalanithi Maran — the Aircel-Maxis case being investigated by the CBI and the ED case of alleged money laundering.
