Aircel-Maxis case: CBI seeks arrest warrant against 2 accused

The CBI today approached a special court seeking issuance of arrest warrant against two Malaysia- based accused in Aircel-Maxis deal case involving ex-Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi Maran.
The probe agency moved the application before special judge O P Saini stating that the summons issued to Malaysian business tycoon T Ananda Krishnan and Malaysian national Augustus Ralph Marshall could not be served upon them.
Besides Maran brothers, Krishnan and Marshall, the court had summoned four companies -- Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd, Maxis Communication Berhad, South Asia Entertainment Holding Ltd and Astro All Asia Network PLC -- as accused in the CBI's case.

During the day's hearing, Marans also challenged the jurisdiction of special 2G court to try the Aircel-Maxis deal- related money laundering case, stating that it was not part of the 2G spectrum scam and cannot be heard by the designated judge who has been nominated to exclusively deal with cases arising out of the 2G scam.
The court had earlier issued summons to accused while taking cognisance of Enforcement Directorate's (ED) charge sheet against the six accused under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
It had said that there was "enough incriminating material" to proceed against the accused.

Meanwhile, the ED today opposed the bail plea of Maran brothers in the case citing that the money laundering aspect is still being probed and the possibility of tampering with the evidence and influencing witnesses may not be ruled out.

"It is submitted that possibility of hampering the investigation and tampering with the evidence by the applicant may not be ruled out in the investigation," ED said, adding that the bail application deserved to be rejected.
The court has put up both the matters for hearing on August 27.
In the money-laundering case, ED had summoned Maran brothers, Krishnan and Marshall and two firms SAFL and Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) as accused in case.

In CBI's case, the accused were chargesheeted for the offences punishable under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.