Dayanidhi Maran told telecom promoter to sell stakes, CBI tells court

The CBI informed a Delhi court on Tuesday that former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran had put pressure on a Chennai-based telecom promoter C. Sivasankaran to sell his stakes in Aircel and two subsidiary firms to a Malaysian firm in 2006.

The CBI also claimed before Special Judge O.P. Saini that Maran had forced Sivasankaran to sell his stakes in these three companies to Maxis Communications Berhad, which is also an accused in the case.

The court was hearing arguments on framing of charges against accused Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and other accused in the Aircel-Maxis case.

The CBI filed a chargesheet against the Maran brothers, Ralph Marshall, T. Ananda Krishnan, M/s Sun Direct TV (P) Ltd, M/s Astro All Asia Networks Plc of UK, M/s Maxis Communications Berhad, and M/s South Asia Entertainment Holdings Ltd of Malaysia, and then Additional Secretary (Telecommunications) late J.S. Sarma.

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.

--IANS

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