JPC meets CBI chief, may call Maran

As the joint parliamentary committee today met to hear from the Central Bureau of Investigation on its probe into the 2G scam, the panel is expected to call textile minister and DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran.

As the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on Tuesday met to hear from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on its probe into the 2G scam, the panel is expected to call textile minister and DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran.

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CBI director AP Singh is appearing before the panel to give it the probe agency's inputs related to its investigation into the scam.

But informed sources said some members had proposed that Maran, who was the IT and communication minister from 2004 to 2007, should be called to depose before the panel.

The sources said the panel will question all communication ministers from 1998 to 2008.

Maran has been in the news following allegations that he was involved in the 2G scam.

Chairman of Sterling Group C Sivasankaran on Monday accused Maran of forcing him to sell his stake in Aircel to Malaysian billionaire T Anand Krishnan's company Maxis Communications Berhad.

Sivasankaran also told the CBI - he went there on his own and was not summoned - Krishnan invested invested $166 million in Sun Direct -- headed by Maran's brother Kalanithi.

Maran has denied Sivasankaran's accusations.

CBI is probing the scam that has already led to the jailing of two senior DMK leaders - former telecom minister A Raja and party patriarch Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi.

The 2G scam related to the allocation of second generation airwaves to telecom companies, according to government auditor's 2010 report, has caused the nation a presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore.