CBI files chargesheet against Marans

The CBI on Friday filed a chargesheet against former central minister Dayanidhi Maran and his elder brother Kalanithi Maran, Chairman and Managing Director of Sun TV Network, for allegedly installing telephones illegally.

The CBI also filed charges against officials of Sun TV, two retired Chief General Managers (CGM) of BSNL and then then Additional Personal Secretary of Dayanidhi Maran.

According to a CBI statement, the case has registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Dayanidhi Maran, retired CGMs M.P. Velusamy and K.B. Brahmadathan as well as others.

They were charged with installing a number of high-end telecommunication facilities at the residence of Dayanidhi Maran here illegally under service category and not raising bills during the period (2004-07), causing a huge loss to the government.

It was alleged that from June 2004 to December 2006, 364 telephone numbers/lines were installed at the Gopalapuram residence of the then central minister.

And from December 2006 to September 2007, 353 telephone lines were put up at Ist Avenue Boat Club Road, Chennai, his new residence.

According to the CBI, 10 post-paid mobile connections were given to a private television channel on the verbal orders of Dayanidhi Maran and the connections were given under "service category" and no bill was raised.

"There was huge data transfer which included voice, video and audio through these telephone connections and all these facilities were allegedly used for the benefit of said television channel network, owned by his (Dayanidhi Maran's) brother," the CBI said.

The CBI alleged that no payment was made for installation charges as well as for rentals of these telephone connections which included high end facilities like ISDN-PRA-BRA broadband, leased circuits with OFC laying connecting both the residences, causing an alleged loss of Rs 1,20,87,769 to the BSNL. This did not include the call charges.

According to CBI, altogether 764 telephone numbers were allegedly provided by Dayanidhi Maran.

"No bills were allegedly raised for all these facilities and thereby an alleged loss to the tune of Rs 1,78,71,393 was caused to BSNL, Chennai, and MTNL, Delhi," the CBI said.

--IANS

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