Chennai: The XIV special court for CBI case will frame charges against former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanidhi Maran and others, on October 3 in connection with over a decade-old illegal telephone exchange scam.
When the matter came up for hearing before the XIV CBI court on Friday, Dayanidhi Maran and four other accused appeared before the special judge. However, his elder brother, Kalanidhi Maran, who remained absent filed a petition seeking the court not to insist on his personal appearance.
A special wing of CBI on December 9, 2016, filed a chargesheet against Dayanidhi Maran and Kalanidhi Maran, who owns the Sun TV network and others, for allegedly using 764 high-speed data lines at the residence of Dayanidhi Maran in Chennai. The facilities were used for Sun TV network and caused a loss of Rs 1.78 crore to the exchequer.
According to CBI when Dayanidhi Maran remained as the Union minister, the telecommunication facilities were illegally deployed in the service of Sun TV and for which bills were not raised for the period 2004-2007.
S. Kannan, the then chief technical assistant of Sun TV and V. Gowthaman, the then additional private secretary to Dayanidhi Maran, K. S. Ravi, an electrician of Sun TV and former BSNL official Velusamy were included as accused in the chargesheet. The judge posted the matter for framing of charges against them to October 3.
