Aircel-Maxis: Court defers order on framing charges yet again

A court here on Wednesday deferred for January 24 its order on framing of charges in the Aircel-Maxis deal case against former Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran and others as the documents in the matter are old, dusty and complex in nature.

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

The court on November 16 had also reserved its order, but has not pronounced the order to date as the documents in the case are voluminous, old, dusty, technical and complex in nature.

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

On August 29, 2014, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has 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 other 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

akk/nir/dg