The DMK leadership continued its silence over the decision of the Enforcement Directorate move to attach properties worth Rs742 crore belonging to the Maran brothers, grand nephews of party chief M Karunanidhi. Kalanithi Maran and his younger brother Dayanidhi are the sons of late Murasoli Maran, nephew of Karunanidhi. Though there was a truce between the warring factions of the Karunanidhi clan after the open war in 2007 between the two branches of the families, the fact that Karunanidhi or his children did not react to the ED move is an indication that all is not well between the grand uncle and the Maran siblings.
“Those who ate salt have to drink water. This is all what we have to say about the Enforcement Directorate attaching the properties of the Maran brothers,” a senior DMK leader told The Pioneer on condition of anonymity. He said both Kalanidhi and Dayanaidhi made their fortunes only because of their close association with Karunanidhi, the DMK chief. In a statement issued on Thursday night, former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran, alleged that the Enforcement Directorate had attached the wrong properties. “They have attached properties which are pre-dated. The attached properties date back to the period before I became the Union Minister. The investigation and attachment are being done to bring disrepute to our family. This is a politically motivated move,” said the younger of the Marans.
Kalanidhi and Dayanidhi own the Sun Group, the largest private satellite TV network in South Asia telecasting in all south Indian languages through a variety of channels. The Maran brothers made hay while the DMK was in power at the Centre during 1989 to 1991, 1996 to 1998 and 1999 to 2013. They own Suryan FM radio network as well as Sun Films and Sun Direct Plus, a DTH service company. The group also owns Dinakaran, a Tamil daily with second largest readership and a host of other Tamil publications.
South Asia FM and Sun TV Network, owned by the Maran family figure in the list of 28 companies which are bidding for 135 FM Radio channels spread across 69 cities in the country. The e-auctioning of the stations are expected to take place soon. The Enforcement Directorate’s decision to attach the properties of the Marans may see the wings of these two companies clipped for the time being. The senior DMK leader who spoke to The Pioneer said only Stalin, Karunanidhi’s heir apparent has some soft corner for the Marans. “The Marans are persona non grata at the residence of Kanimozhi, Karunanidhi’s daughter by his third wife. They may get some support from Stalin,” he said.
Selvi, Karunanidhi’s daughter by second wife Dayalu, may come forward to help the Maran brothers. She is married to Murasoli Selvam, younger brother of late Murasoli Maran and is believed to have played a major role in bringing the Maran brothers and Karunanidhi together after the 2007 turf war. But the fortunes of Maran’s owned Sun News and Sun TV may suffer a setback as Karunanidhi and his family would strive hard to take Kalaignar TV, launched to take on Sun TV following the 2007 battle between the clans, to new heights.