A day after the CBI received an opinion from Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi who said there was enough evidence to proceed with prosecution in the Aircel-Maxis deal case, the agency on Tuesday said it will file a chargesheet against former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanidhi by next week.
Marans are accused of allegedly coercing Aircel for its takeover by Malaysian firm Maxis. CBI Director Ranjit Sinha said the agency has taken into consideration the opinion of Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi, the representations sent by Maxis and material evidence collected by it through letters Rogatory and other methods.”I have issued orders to file the charge sheet. It will be filed within a week,” Sinha told reporters.
The decision comes after the Attorney General opined that there was enough evidence to file charge sheet against Marans.
The matter was referred to the AG after a difference of opinion emerged on the issue of chargesheeting Marans emerged between the investigation team and CBI Director Ranjit Sinha who was of the view that there not enough prosecutable evidence in the case.
The CBI had a case in 2011 alleging that Dayanidhi Maran as telecom minister had used his influence to help Malaysian business tycoon T Ananda Krishnan to acquire Aircel by coercing its owner C Sivasankaran.Sivasankaran alleged that the then telecom minister had favoured Malaysia-based Maxis group in the takeover of his company.
As a quid pro quo Maxis’ sister concern Astro network invested in Sun Group, a concern owned by the Marans.