Maran brothers, 4 others summoned as accused in Aircel-Maxis deal

In August 2014, the CBI too had filed its charge sheet against the brothers, Malaysian business tycoon T Ananda Krishnan, Malaysian national Augustus Ralph Marshall and four companies — Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd, Maxis Communication Berhad, South Asia Entertainment Holding Ltd and Astro All Asia Network PLC.

A Delhi trial court on Saturday summoned former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and four others as accused in the Aircel-Maxis case in which they have been charged with money laundering.

Special CBI judge OP Saini said there was enough “incriminating material” to proceed against them. Besides the two brothers, the others summoned are Kalanithi’s wife Kavery Kalanithi; managing director of South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL) K Shanmugam and two firms — SAFL and Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL).

“On perusal of the material on record, I am satisfied that there is enough incriminating material on record to proceed against the accused. Issue summons to the accused for July 11,” the court ordered, while taking cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate charge sheet.

In August 2014, the CBI too had filed its charge sheet against the brothers, Malaysian business tycoon T Ananda Krishnan, Malaysian national Augustus Ralph Marshall and four companies — Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd, Maxis Communication Berhad, South Asia Entertainment Holding Ltd and Astro All Asia Network PLC.

CBI had alleged that Dayanidhi had “pressurised” and “forced” Chennai-based telecom promoter C Sivasankaran to sell his stakes in Aircel and two subsidiary companies to Malaysian firm Maxis Group in 2006, a charge denied by all.