Illegal telephone exchange case: CBI questions Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar

Former Sun Pictures CEO Hansraj Saxena was questioned two days related to the same case

After questioning former Sun Pictures CEO Hansraj Saxena for two days in connection with the alleged illegal usage of around 323 telephone lines, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has today questioned Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar.
 
The agency found that by drawing 323 high-speed BSNL lines to Maran's house, and laying another set of underground optic fibre cables to his brother Kalanithi Maran's Sun Network office to uplink programmes, BSNL incurred a loss of 440 crore. Kumar was working with Sun TV during the time, who later took a key position in Kalaignar TV, backed by former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's family.

 
According to CBI sources, Saxena, who was earlier in good relations with the Sun TV promoter and later left the organisation to pursue his own business ventures including film production, has informed the investigators that he has nothing to do with the uplinking.
 

It may be noted that the whole issue came out four years back when reports came out that the telephone connections were misused by the former Union Telecom Minister and Sun TV Network and CBI started investigation during the year 2011. The investigative agency has conducted detailed search in the house of Dayanidhi Maran and Sun TV Network's then office, during the time. According to reports, it has also named two former employees of BSNL in the FIR.

 
Saxena, who has come out from Sun TV following the issues, has started his own production company and was also reportedly planning to launch a television channel.