Former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother and Sun group chairman Kalanithi Maran were discharged by a special CBI court from the illegal telephone exchange case here on Wednesday.
Five others — the private secretary to the former Union Minister, two former Chief General Managers of BSNL, and two employees of Sun TV — were also discharged from the case. All seven persons, including Mr. Dayanidhi and Mr. Kalanithi, were present in the packed court hall.
Pronouncing orders on the discharge petitions, XIV additional sessions judge S. Natarajan said since there was insufficient material to frame charges against any of the accused, he had discharged them all.
The CBI had registered a case against the seven accused on July 23, 2013. The prosecution’s case was that from 2004 to 2007, while Mr. Dayanidhi was Union Minister, 764 telephone lines were provided by BSNL to his Gopalapuram and Boat Club Road residences.
Ten post-paid mobile connections, nine with vanity numbers, were given to Sun TV on the oral instructions of the then Union Minister under “service category” with no bill raised.
The CBI alleged that there was huge data transfer to benefit the television network owned by Mr. Kalanithi. No installation or rental charges were paid.
Reacting to the judgment, Mr. Dayanidhi said justice had prevailed and he stood vindicated.
CBI to seek legal remedy
The CBI will seek appropriate legal remedy to the discharge of all the accused, including former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother and Sun group chairman Kalanithi Maran, in the illegal telephone exchange case here on Wednesday.
They were discharged by a special CBI court due to lack of sufficient material for framing of charges.
When contacted, a CBI spokesperson said, “We are yet to receive the copy of the judgment. We will examine the judgment and seek appropriate legal remedy.”
In the charge sheet, the CBI cited the then BSNL Chief General Manager K. Brahmanathan, former BSNL Deputy General Manager M. Velusamy, the former Union Minister, his personal secretary V. Gowthaman, an electrician of Sun TV, K.S. Ravi ,and Sun TV chief technical officer S. Kannan, and chairman and managing director Mr. Kalanithi as accused.
It was alleged that no bills were raised for the facilities, causing a loss of ₹1.78 crore.
Allowing their discharge petitions, XIV additional sessions judge S. Natarajan said, “This court has come to the conclusion that the prosecution has not placed sufficient material to establish the allegation that Mr. Dayanidhi got more phone connections with mala fide intention to use the same for Sun TV.”
Mr. Natarajan said no strong suspicion was projected by the prosecution that Mr. Brahmanathan, Mr. Velusamy and Mr. Dayanidhi entered into a criminal conspiracy.
Discharging Mr. Kalanithi and two other staff of his television network, the court said Sun TV was not named as accused by the prosecution.
“The prosecution has not placed any materials showing Mr. Kalanithi alone was vicariously liable for the offence committed. It is the view of the court that without Sun TV being made an accused, the prosecution case against him is not maintainable.”
Reacting to the judgment, Mr. Dayanidhi said: “The court has found that there was neither merit nor substance in the allegations levelled against me and discharged me from the case.”
“I have been stating from day one that these allegations are politically motivated and foisted falsely, out of jealousy and business rivalry against my brother and to defame me, my family and my party. I am also deeply pained by the ordeal that two of the retired senior officials of BSNL and others were unnecessarily subjected to,” he said.
Mr. Dayanidhi said he resigned from the post of Union Minister when the allegations were levelled against him, so that he could prove his innocence in a court of law and clear his name.
Vindicated: Dayanidhi
“Now, I stand vindicated. It is unfortunate that lies were spread as news and liars were made to look like heroes, and I was made to look like a villain. But truth triumphed in the end,” Mr. Dayanidhi said.
He said he took to politics to continue his father’s work and fulfil his vision.
“Not once have I misused the public office or my position. This is a watershed moment for me. I take this opportunity to thank my beloved leader, party members, family, friends and well-wishers.”
