Maran Brothers walk free in Aircel – Maxis case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had lodged cases against the Maran brothers in the Aircel – Maxis deal. OP Saini, a special Judge, was hearing two different matters related to the Aircel – Maxis deal lodged by the CBI and ED.

All charges against former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others have been dropped by a special court in New Delhi on Thursday. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had lodged cases against the Maran brothers in the Aircel – Maxis deal.

Kalanithi's wife Kavery Kalanithi, South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL) Managing Director K. Shanmugam and two companies -- SAFL and Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) have also been discharged along with the Maran brothers.

OP Saini, a special Judge, was hearing two different matters related to the Aircel – Maxis deal lodged by the CBI and ED.

The CBI had lodged a case alleging Dayanidhi Maran used his influence to aide Malaysian business tycoon TA Ananda Krishnan. The former Telecom Minister helped Krishnan to buy Aircel by persuading the company’s owner Sivasankaran to part with his stake.

All the accused denied the allegations brought against them by the CBI and appealed for bails. Dayanidi refuted the charge quite strongly as well.

In the money laundering case, the Maran brothers and all the accused were chargesheeted by the ED. The court had even summoned the all the six accused stating that there were enough materials to begin proceedings against them.