Aircel-Maxis case: CBI chargesheet likely next week

The Central Bureau of Investigation’s chargesheet, likely next week, in the Aircel-Maxis (telecom) case is likely to focus on the India part, since information from the Malaysian authorities is still awaited.

A senior CBI official said they’d completed the India leg of the probe, with enough evidence against those accused to prove the charges of criminal conspiracy and bribery.

The attorney general of Malaysia had visited the CBI office to assure cooperation in the probe, after reports about lack of information flow from that country.

Former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran is accused of misusing his official position to cause undue delays and denials of the legitimate requests of Aircel. The disservice rendered to Aircel paved the way for Maxis to acquire Aircel from its founder, C Sivasankaran, goes the charge.

LAW TAKES ITS COURSE

• CBI says it has enough evidence to prove that Dayanidhi Maran deliberately caused delays and denials of legitimate requests of Aircel
• The disservice rendered to Aircel consequently paved the way for Maxis to acquire Aircel from its founder Sivasankaran
• CBI is now awaiting information from Malaysia, which includes all the details of transactions between Maxis, Aircel and  other companies

CBI is also expected to make its case on the alleged illegal gratification of Rs 549.96 crore transferred as share premium and invested in Sun Direct TV (linked to Mran) by South Asia Entertainment Holdings, a fully owned subsidiary of Astro All Asia Networks.

The First Information Report (FIR) registered by CBI in October 2011 had named Maran, then the textile minister, his brother and Sun TV chairman Kalanithi Maran, Maxis owner and chairman Ananda Krishnan and Ralph Marshall, chief executive of Astro and board member of Maxis, in the alleged conspiracy behind the Aircel-Maxis deal.  

The information sought by CBI from Malaysia includes details of transactions between Maxis, Aircel and companies such as Sun Direct. Following the deal, Astro, a part of Krishnan’s media-telecom empire, had announced a $160-million investment in Sun Direct for a 20 per cent stake. Astro also raised its stake in Sun Direct to 35 per cent. Sun Direct is the direct-to-home arm of the Sun group, promoted by Kalanithi Maran.

In April this year, CBI had told the Supreme Court there were “some difficulties” in the probe, since the investigation would have to also be made abroad. A team from CBI then visited Malaysia to gather information.

CBI recently also registered a fresh FIR against Maran and officials of government-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam for the allotment of 300 high-speed telephone lines to the former former’s residence in Chennai. CBI said it also found phone connections were extended to Sun TV.