No clean chit to Maran in 2G scam: CBI

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Tuesday that it had not given a clean chit to Dayanidhi Maran, the communication minister during the first United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

"We have not given clean chit to anyone so far, not even to Dayanidhi Maran. By September-end we may file a case and likely to complete investigation," said a CBI official.

The CBI said that during investigation, an element of "coercion" was not found against Maran, who was the telecom minister between May 2004 and May 2007, in his alleged role in the sale of Aircel to Malaysia-based Maxis group.

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

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