The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Madras High Court order cancelling former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran's anticipatory bail. Justice T.S. Thakur also asked whether political vendetta was behind the push for Maran’s arrest. Here's a look at the illegal telephone exchange case that the former Minister has been embroiled in:
Triple Trouble
The Madras High Court has observed that it does not find the CBI's allegations against Maran frivolous and that the charges are corroborated by material on record and circumstances.
What exactly is the case about ?
The case by the CBI
- Case: CBI says between June 2004 and June 2007, officials provided ISDN, broadband connections and leased line circuits at Maran's residence under 'service category'
- Illegal Lines: No provision in rules for minister to get facilities without DoT’s approval
- Free Lines: Maran got 364 actual phone numbers with high-end connections at his Gopalapuram residence, no bills were raised and no payments were made
- SIM Cards: He also had 19 prepaid mobile SIM cards without entitlement, these cards were used by Sun TV staff without payment
- New Address: In December 2006, Maran shifted to Boat Club Road residence. Another 353 connections were given to new residence
- Leased Lines: He also got 13 connections from MTNL for his Delhi residence, including ISDN connections, 8+8mbps leased line circuit also
- All for Sun: All the exchanges were configured with the main exchange at then Sun TV head office in Anna Arivalayam in Chennai
- Huge Loss: Probe revealed estimated loss amounting to Rs. 1.78 crores to exchequer
- Complicity: Chief general managers of Chennai Telephones K Brahmadathan (2004-2006), M.P. Velusamy(2006-2007) booked as co-accused.
Dayanidhi Maran's argument
- » ISDN PRA connection is just one, and not over 300 as claimed. Anyone can get this facility on payment of RS. 1,750, and only one bill is generated
- » As Cabinet minister, he was entitled to 1,50,000 free calls and even assuming 300 connections were used, it was within his eligibility
- » Allegation that Sun TV used these connections for data transfer is baseless
- » Charge that he did not cooperate with CBI investigation is false. Charge that he was evasive and non-cooperative only meant that the CBI was expecting a confession
Two other cases against Maran
- In August 2014, CBI files chargesheet alleging that Dayanidhi plotted with T. Ananada Krishnan, owner of Malaysian company Maxis, and forced Sivasankaran of Aircel to sell his shares to Mr. Krishnan
- Based on the CBI’s case findings in the Aircel-Maxis probe, the Enforcement Directorate opens investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. On April 2, 2015, the Directorate attaches Rs. 742.58 crore worth assets.
