CBI to file case against Maran: Sources

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which began a preliminary investigation on Wednesday into the licences given to telecom companies between 2001 to 2007, is likely to file a case against all the people involved, including Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran, sources said.

The CBI is probing the role of Maran, who was the communications and IT minister from May 26, 2004 to May 14, 2007, in the allocation of licences, CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra confirmed.

"CBI has started a preliminary inquiry and we are looking into the matter. Case can be registered as per procedures. Summoning will take place after that," she said.

"CBI will file a case against all the people involved, including Maran, in the next 15 to 20 days," a CBI source told IANS.

Maran is accused of blocking for two years Aircel's application for licence and spectrum with a view to pressurise its promoter C. Sivasankaran to strike a deal with Maxis, a Malaysian telecom firm controlled by T. Anandakrishnan, that bought stakes in Aircel later in March 2006.

Also read: Maran should resign say BJP Jayalalithaa 

It is also alleged that Aircel's file gained momentum only after Maxis, close to the Maran family, bought majority stakes in it.

The Maran family owned Sun Network later attracted a huge investment to the tune of Rs.700 crore from the Malaysian firm.

The CBI is giving final touches to the second supplementary chargesheet in the 2G spectrum case, in which former telecom minister A. Raja and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi's parliamentarian daughter Kanimozhi are behind bars.

"As soon as we finish with the second supplementary chargesheet, we will register a case into 2001 to 2007 spectrum allocation," said the source.