The CBI on Friday filed charges against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his elder brother Kalanithi Maran and others in the illegal telephone exchange scam, which according to the agency caused a loss of more than 1.78 crore to the exchequer.
According to the CBI, the accused installed an illegal telephone exchange of 764-high speed telephone lines under service category, for which no bills were raised. The charge sheet also states that the lines were also wrongfully used by a private TV channel. The CBI has also named two then chief general managers of BSNL in the charge sheet.
The agency has claimed that between June 2004 and December 2006, 364 telephone lines were installed at Dayanidhi’s then residence in Chennai’s Gopalapuram. The charge sheet states that between December 2006 and September 2007 an additional 353 lines were installed at Ist Avenue Boat Club Road, the new address of the former union minister. The CBI has alleged that no bills were generated for these lines.
The investigation agency claimed that 10 postpaid mobile connections with vanity numbers were given to a television channel as per the verbal orders of the then minister and these connections were given under service category.
{{/usCountry}}The investigation agency claimed that 10 postpaid mobile connections with vanity numbers were given to a television channel as per the verbal orders of the then minister and these connections were given under service category.
{{/usCountry}}These telephone lines were allegedly used by the television channel for its voice, video and data usage but no bills were raised. A loss of Rs 1,78,71,393 was incurred by BSNL and MTNL, Delhi.