Chennai: Chariman of Sun Group, Kalanithi Maran, has written to Union home minister Rajnath Singh appealing to him to reconsider his decision and grant necessary security clearance to his FM radio stations and TV channels. As many as 33 TV channels operated by Sun Group face the threat of going off air following the MHA’s stand not to grant security clearance for them. In his letter dated June 8, 2015 (copy of the letter is available with DC), Kalanithi Maran described the grounds of denial of clearance as “untenable” and said, “Most of the TV companies have criminal cases pending against them or against their directors/promoters or their group companies but only we have been singled out.”
“There are several TV and FM radio companies, including some controlled by very large business conglomerates, which among them have pending cases involving 2G spectrum, corporate espionage at the ministry of petroleum, corruption involving disproportionate assets and extortion, The security clearances for these media companies have not been revoked. We do not fall within any of the conditions stipulated for disqualification in grant of licence as per the government regulations in this regard,” his letter read.
Caught in a whirlpool of controversies, Sun TV has also dragged some of the big names of corporate India, viz Reliance Industries Ltd, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, Essar and Cairns into the MHA security clearance row. Though Maran letter makes no mention of it, a letter and annexure numbering 14 (copies of media reports) sent by his chief executive officer L. Shanmugham to Union home secretary L.C. Goyal on the same day have named Sahara Group chairman Subbarato Roy, PMK leader, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, YSR Congress leader Jaganmohan Reddy and garnet exporter Vaikundarajan, whose family had launched a news channel over a year back, among others to drive home the point that the other media barons facing criminal cases were left out and only the Sun Group was being singled out.
Curiously, neither Kalaignar TV nor Kanimozhi’s name, both of which are also embroiled in the 2G case, do not feature in the letter or attachments. Referring to the participation of telecom and power companies in 3G/4G spectrum and coal block allocation auctions despite pending CBI/ED cases, Maran said, “The matter involving Sun Direct Pvt Ltd is at the very preliminary stage with charges yet to be framed. We are confident that we will get acquitted. If any penal action like denial of licence is instituted at this stage, it will be grave miscarriage of justice.”
