Dayanidhi Maran Grilled for Six Hours in BSNL Exchange Case

Ex-telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran. (Photo: Reuters)

Former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran recorded his statement before the CBI on Monday in connection with the case of alleged installation of over 300 high-speed telephone lines at his Chennai residence.

The move comes after the CBI was snubbed by the Supreme Court for seeking custody of Maran for investigation.

The apex court had on Friday directed the former minister to appear before the agency from 11 am to 5 pm for six days starting on Monday. Maran was questioned for nearly six hours on Monday before leaving the building at quarter past five.

The CBI has registered an FIR against Maran and others alleging that over 300 high-speed telephone lines were provided at his residence and extended to his brother Kalanithi Maran’s SUN TV channel to enable its uplinking from 2004-07. Dayanidhi Maran was Telecom Minister at the time.

The then Chief General Manager of BSNL has claimed that the telephone exchange was set up on the oral order of the then minister, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the SC.

Madras High Court had on August 10 cancelled Maran’s interim anticipatory bail and directed him to surrender before CBI in three days. The court held that prima facie Maran had “misused” his office by obtaining phone connections illegally and the charges against him were backed by material.

It was challenged before the apex court by Maran where CBI had claimed his custodial interrogation. The probe agency said it needed his custody to unravel the “actual conspiracy” as the telephone lines were allegedly used by his family-run Sun TV.

“We will not grant you (CBI) his custody. Interim order (of protection against arrest) to continue. In the meantime, we direct the petitioner to appear before CBI...,” the apex court said, admitting the plea of Maran for final hearing.