Aircel-Maxis: Court issues summon to Maran brothers

They were charge sheeted by Enforcement Directorate on Jan 8 for money laundering of Rs 742.58 cr

A court here on Saturday issued summon to former Communication minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi and four others in a money laundering case related to the Aircel-Maxis deal.

After taking cognisance of the charge sheet, Special Judge O P Saini issued summons to the Marans, Kalanithi's wife Kavery Kalanithi, company South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL) and its Managing Director K Shanmugam and firm Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) asking them to appear before him on July 11.

The six were charge sheeted by Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 8 for money laundering of Rs 742.58 crore.

ED counsel N K Matta, while requesting court to initiate proceedings against accused, said: "Dayanidhi Maran obtained the proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 742.58 crore through the companies of his relatives by camouflaging the proceeds of crime as capital contribution in SDTPL and SAFL and has committed the offence of money laundering in receiving the said proceeds of crime in the said companies owned and controlled by his brother, Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Kalanithi."

Dayanidhi Maran allegedly influenced a Malaysian businessman to buy Aircel by coercing its owner Sivasankaran to part with his stake.

Maran favoured the Maxis Group in the takeover of his company, and in return, the Malaysian businessman's company made investments in a company stated to be owned by the Maran family.

The money was paid to SDTPL and SAFL, both of which are owned and controlled by Kalanithi Maran, and utilised by the two companies in their business, ED said.

The probe revealed that promoters of the SDTPL are Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Kalanithi.