Aircel-Maxis deal case: CBI chargesheets Maran brothers

Besides four individuals the CBI has also named four companies including Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd as accused in the case

Former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanidhi Maran and six others, including four companies, were today chargesheeted by the CBI in a special court in the Aircel-Maxis deal case arising out of the investigation in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

Besides the Maran brothers, the CBI has named Malaysian business tycoon T Ananda Krishnan, Ralph Marshall, a top executive and four companies, including Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd and Malaysia's Maxis Communication Berhad, as accused in the case.

They have been chargesheeted for the offences punishable under section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The charge sheet was filed before Special CBI Judge O P Saini who fixed it for consideration on September 11.

Former Telecom Secretary J S Sharma, who has died, has also been named in the charge sheet. However, his name has been put in a column of the accused against whom trial cannot proceed.

South Asia Entertainment Holding Ltd, Mauritius, and ASTRO All Asia Network plc have also been named as accused in the charge sheet.

It was filed a day after the Supreme Court turned down the plea of Dayanidhi Maran seeking to restrain CBI from filing the charge sheet, saying that investigation in the case is still going on.

CBI, in the Supreme Court, had alleged that Maran had "forced" Chennai-based telecom promoter C Sivasankaran to sell the stake in Aircel to Malaysian firm Maxis Group in 2006 owned by Ananda Krishnan.

THE AIRCEL-MAXIS MARAN STORY:  

* Dec 31, 2005:  Aircel sold to T Ananda Krishnan-promoted Maxis Communications and Sindya Securities & Investments Pvt Ltd owned by Suneetha Reddy and husband P Dwarakanath Reddy. Suneetha is Apollo promoter Prathap Reddy's daughter

* Dec 2006:  Maxis gets licence for all telecom circles

* Apr 2007:  Astro All Asia Networks, a Maxis group subsidiary, acquires 20% stake in Sun Direct for $166 million (Rs 599 crore)

* Nov 2010:  Astro further invests Rs 396 crore in Kalanithi's Kal Media Services, increases its stake in Sun Direct to 35 per cent

* June 2011: Aircel promoter C Sivasankaran told CBI he was forced by Dayanidhi Maran to sell his stake in Aircel to Maxis.

* July 7, 2011:  DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, who was earlier telecom minister, resigns as textile minister

* Oct 10, 2011:  CBI registers FIR against Dayanidhi Maran, brother and Sun TV promoter Kalanithi Maran, T Ananda Krishnan among others

* Mar 21, 2013:  CBI officers meet Attorney General of Malaysia

* Apr 17, 2013:  Supreme Court gives CBI three months to wind up probe and present status report

* Nov 2013 : Differences on chargesheet within CBI; matter referred to the Attorney General

* Jul 2014 : New AG Mukul Rohatgi asks CBI to prosecute Marans, as there is incriminating evidence