Petition challenging jurisdiction in Aircel-Maxis case withdrawn

The Delhi high court petition had been filed after the special court had dismissed pleas moved by accused parties questioning the jurisdiction of the trial court

The Delhi High Court on Monday allowed South Asia Entertainment Holdings Limited, which is a co-accused along with former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanidhi Maran and others in the Aircel-Maxis case, to withdraw an earlier petition challenging the jurisdiction of a special 2G court.

The high court petition had been filed after the special court had on September 17, dismissed pleas moved by the accused parties questioning the jurisdiction of the trial court to try cases filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate in relation to the Aircel-Maxis transaction.

"The Special Leave petition challenging the trial court order is pending before the Supreme Court. In view of it, the petitioner seeks to withdraw the present petition. The same is allowed," the bench of Justice I S Mehta said in Monday's hearing.

Apart from the Maran brothers, the CBI has named Malaysian business magnate T Ananda Krishnan, Malaysian national Ralph Marshall and four companies - Sun Direct TV, Astro All Asia Networks (UK), Maxis Communications (Malaysia), and South Asia Entertainment Holdings (Malaysia)- as accused parties in the case.

The accused have been charge-sheeted of offences under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code 1860 and relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.