Special 2G court reserves its order on Aircel-Maxis case

A Special 2G court on Saturday reserved its order on whether it has the jurisdiction to try the Aircel-Maxis deal. The court is likely to pass its order on September 6.

The Delhi High Court yesterday appeared disinclined to interfere in the case involving former union minister Dayanidhi Maran, saying the matter was sub-judice in a competent court.

The Aircel-Maxis case is tied to allegations that then telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran forced Aircel owner C. Sivasankaran to transfer his ownership to Maxis Communications Bhd in 2006.

The Malaysian company, in return, invested in Kalanithi Maran's Sun Direct, the direct-to-home TV arm of his Sun TV Network Ltd.

Maran 's lawyer today submitted in court that the Aircel-Maxis dispute is a private matter and the two commercial companies will sort it out.

"It was not part of the 2G spectrum scam, and hence, cannot be heard by the designated judge (for 2G trial)," he said.

Dayanidhi Maran, his wife Kaveri Kalanithi, his brother Kalanithi Maran and four others had moved a Delhi court last month seeking bail in connection with the case.

The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that two firms, South Asia FM Limited (SAFL) and Sun Direct TV Private Ltd. (SDTPL), had received Rs. 742.58 crore as "proceeds of crime" from Mauritius-based firms and that the two firms were then allegedly controlled by Kalanithi Maran.