New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday reiterated in the Supreme Court its plea to arrest former communications minister Dayanidhi Maran for custodial interrogation in the “764 lines illegal telephone exchange” case.
In a fresh affidavit filed in the court, the investigating agency said: “The custodial examination of Mr Maran is required to ascertain the actual usage of these lines for the benefit of Sun TV which is in his exclusive knowledge.”
“There is evidence of forging/ tampering and manipulation of records. Custodial interrogation is necessary to ascertain the modus operandi of the usage of the illegal telephone exchange, to ascertain the actual usage and consequential loss to the public exchequer,” it said.
Maran told to file rejoinder by November 27
A bench of Justices T.S. Thakur and V. Gopala Gowda posted the hearing in the “764 lines illegal telephone exchange” case against former communications minister Dayanidhi Maran for further hearing on November 27 to enable Mr Maran to file his rejoinder to the CBI’s affidavit. The bench had already stayed the Madras high court order cancelling his anticipatory bail.
The CBI said that Mr Maran had 764 telephone lines under service category which were used for the benefit of his brother’s Sun TV. There is evidence on record to substantiate the allegations that the petitioner in criminal conspiracy with the CGMs of BSNL illegally obtained these 764 telephone numbers under service category. No approval of DoT was obtained wilfully for any of these connections.
In 2009, the petitioner was instrumental in getting generated a fake/forged reply from BSNL stating that during the relevant period (2004 to 2007) there was only one connection in the name of petitioner and there was no outstanding on him.
On Mr Maran’s contention that as a minister he was entitled for service line as has been provided to all the previous communications ministers, the CBI said: “Some of the ministers obtained connections in private capacity, for which the payment was made by them whereas the petitioner obtained 764 telephone numbers illegally and without the approval of DoT.”
No bills were raised for the same and thereby huge undue loss was caused to the exchequer. No due certificate from the Lok Sabha Secretariat as mentioned by the petitioners were obtained by generating forged/false letter from BSNL, stating their in that only one connection provided to him and no dues were pending on the petitioner.
No bills were raised for all these facilities by showing them falsely as connection under service category and thereby causing undue loss to the tune of Rs. 1,78,71,393 approximately and the corresponding benefits to the SUN TV through the exchanges purchased by SUN TV and installed at the Chennai and New Delhi residences of Mr. Maran. It must be noted that Sun TV had invested Rs. 50 lakhs on equipment and infrastructure to avail the benefits.
The CBI said “It is required to know why no payment was made and also likelihood of any payment. The petitioner also obtained several leased line circuits and 19 prepaid mobiles Sims from BSNL, Chennai, illegally and without his entitlement under services category for which also no bills were raised and no payments were made to BSNL, Chennai."
"He also obtained 13 telephone connections (including two ISDN) and one 8mbps leased line circuits from MTNL New Delhi. The MTNL did not seek approval of DOT for ISDN connections and leased line circuit because these connections could not be provided to anybody under service category," the CBI said and prayed for canceling the anticipatory bail and to arrest Mr. Maran.
