Maran claims allegations against him are politically motivated

Defending a volley of accusations directed at him for his role in 2G telecom scam, India's former Telecom Minister and present Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran on Thursday claimed innocence. Terming the allegations as a political conspiracy against him and his party, Maran said his dealings are an open book. He pooh-poohed charges that his family-owned Sun TV Network was a beneficiary of pay-offs by a Malaysian company, which benefited from the equity holdings of Indian Telecom Company, Aircel. Maran claimed the investment made by Maxis Communication in direct-to-home company of the Sun Direct TV, owned by Maran's brother, Kalanidhi, was done out of will and he was almost a political untouchable then.