Aircel-Maxis deal: Delhi court summons Maran brothers

According to media reports, Dayanidhi has been summoned to appear a special CBI court in 1 March, 2015 to explain charges of corruption in helping Malaysia's Maxis group take control in 2006 of Indian mobile phone carrier Aircel, while he was the union telecom Minister.

Apart from Dayanidhi, his brother Kalanithi Maran, who is a media mogul, Malaysian business tycoon T Ananda Krishnan and Augustus Ralph Marshall, a top official of Malaysia-based Maxis group were also summoned by the court to appear on the same day.

According to media reports, CBI accused Dayanidhi of misusing his office as Telecom Minister to pressurize C Sivasankaran, owner of Aircel to sell his company to Maxis, which is owned by Ananda Krishnan.

It has been alleged that in exchange, Maxis invested Rs. 650 crore Sun TV group owned by Dayanidhi’s brother, Kalanithi Maran.

Maran and Maxis officials have both denied any wrong-doing.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which started investigating the case in 2011, had filed a chargesheet in the Aircel-Maxis deal against the former minister in August.

Apart from the individuals, the central agency also made four companies including Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd an accused in the case.

It has been learnt that Special CBI Judge O P Saini on Wednesday took cognisance of the CBI's chargesheet filed against eight accused including four companies and summoned them on March 1.

"I have carefully gone through the copy of the FIR, charge sheet, statement of witnesses and related documents comprised in the voluminous record of the case. On the perusal of the record, I am satisfied that there is enough incriminating material on record to proceed against the accused. Accordingly, I take cognisance of the case," media quoted CBI Judge as saying.