In what could be a major embarrassment to the DMK, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday filed a chargesheet in a
Chennai court against former Union Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Dayanidhi Maran, his elder brother Kalanidhi Maran (who owns the Sun TV network), and three others in the illegal telephone exchange case. The case has been filed in the court of the Principal Sessions Judge for CBI cases in Chennai.
According to the chargesheet, the exchequer lost Rs 1.78 crore due to the illegal installation of an unauthorised private telephone exchange in the personal residence of then Minister Dayanidhi Maran. The Marans are the grand nephews of M Karunanidhi, the DMK patriarch.
The existence of a private unauthorised telephone exchange in the residence of then Minister Maran was exposed by noted charted accountant S Gurumurthy in a series of columns in New Indian Express. According to Gurumurthy, the exchequer had lost Rs 440 crore because of this illegal telephone exchange.
The accused in the chargesheet includes the former Minister’s personal secretary, two chief general managers of the BSNl who have retired since then and two staff members of a private satellite TV channel owned by the Maran brothers. Cases have been filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
“During the period from June 2004 to December 2006, approximately 364 telephone numbers/lines were installed at the Gopalapuram, Chennai residence of the then Union Minister and during the period from December 2006 to September 2007, approximately 353 number of telephone lines were installed at Ist Avenue Boat Club Road, Chennai which was the new residence of the then Minister. It was further alleged that 10 post-paid mobile connections with vanity numbers in respect of 9 numbers were given to a private television channel as per the verbal orders of the then Minister and that these connections were given under “service category” and no bill was raised,” said the chargesheet.
It further states that there was huge data transfer which included voice, video and audio through these telephone connections and all these facilities were allegedly used for the benefits of said television channel network, owned by the Minister’s brother. “It was further alleged that no payment was made for installation charges as well as for rentals of these telephone connections which included high-end facilities Iike ISDN-PRA-BRA, broadband, leased circuits with OFC laying connecting both the residents thereby, causing an alleged loss to the tune of Rs 1,20,87,769 to the BSNl, which did not include the call charges,” the chargesheet says.
The CBI investigation has revealed that altogether 764 telephone numbers were allegedly provided to the then Minister of Communication & IT by BSNl, Chennai Telephones and MTNl, New Delhi. “No bills were allegedly raised for all these facilities and thereby an alleged loss to the tune of Rs. 1,78,71,393 was caused to BSNl, Chennai and MTNl, Delhi.