Aircel-Maxis case: Old, dusty documents leads to another adjournment

Noting that the documents were old, dusty and complex in nature, a court here on Tuesday deferred for February 2 its order on framing of charges in the Aircel-Maxis deal case against former Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran and others.

Special Judge O.P. Saini, who was scheduled to deliver his order on Tuesday, postponed the order, saying it is not ready as the documents are voluminous in nature.

The court also observed that the documents, besides being extremely voluminous, are also old, dusty, technical and complex in nature and said the matter requires further consideration.

The court on November 16 had also reserved its order, but not pronounced the order to date.

It is the sixth time that the court has deferred its order.

On August 29, 2014, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet along with documents in 15 boxes.

The court will also pronounce its order on the bail plea of Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others accused in the Aircel-Maxis case on the next date of hearing.

The CBI has chargesheeted Maran, his brother and businessman Kalanithi Maran, Chennai-based firm Sun Direct TV, Malaysian businessman T.A. Ananda Krishnan, his aide Augustus Ralph Marshall, and the two accused firms -- Maxis Communications Berhad and Astro All Asia Networks, both of Malaysia.

The chargesheet alleged that Dayanidhi Maran used his influence to help Krishnan buy Aircel by coercing its owner Sivasankaran to part with his stake.

Sivasankaran alleged that Dayanidhi Maran favoured the Maxis Group in the takeover of his company. In return, he alleged, the company made investments through Astro Network in a company stated to be owned by the Maran family.

The chargesheet was filed under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and other relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In the other case, the Enforcement Directorate has chargesheeted Maran brothers, Kalanithi's wife Kavery Kalanithi, South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL) Managing Director K. Shanmugam and two companies -- SAFL and Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) -- for laundering Rs 742.58 crore.

--IANS

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