Illegal telephone exchange case: Madras HC rejects Maran brothers' plea

Chennai: The Madras high court has dismissed the petitions filed by former Union telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his elder brother Kalanidhi Maran of Sun TV group and three others, challenging the framing of charges against them by a Special Court for CBI cases in the alleged illegal telephone exchange case.

However, pointing out that the charges against the accused being framed improperly by the XIV additional judge, CBI cases, Justice A.D.Jagdish Chandira, remanded the matter back to the trial court for consideration of framing charges afresh.

“The trial court is directed to carefully look into all the materials and frame proper and necessary charges, in respect of each and every accused/A-1 to -7, in accordance with the procedures, as contemplated in the Code of Criminal Procedure, based on the materials available”, the judge added.

The judge said if necessary, the prosecution can assist the trial court, by filing draft charges.

Special judge R.Vasanthi had in August framed the charges and ordered trial of former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran and others in the case of alleged setting up of illegal telephone exchanges to benefit the Sun TV network of his elder brother Kalanidhi Maran during 2004-2006.

Originally, the CBI court had on March 14, discharged all the accused from the case. On a petition from the CBI, the Madras high court had on July 25 quashed the order of the CBI court and directed it to frame charges and conclude the trial within a year.