Telephone Exchange Scam: CBI Wants Maran’s Custodial Interrogation

The CBI requested the Supreme court for Maran’s custodial interrogation in relation to the telephone exchange scam.

Dayanidhi Maran (C), a leader of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, walks after attending a parliament session in New Delhi. (Photo: Reuters)

DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran is not cooperating in the alleged telephone exchange case and his custodial interrogation was necessary “to ascertain the actual usage” of telephone lines for purported benefit of family venture SUN TV, the CBI has told the Supreme Court of India.

<p>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 and 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.</p>

<p><b>affidavit filed before a bench headed by justice T S Thakur</b></p>

Taking on record the affidavit of CBI, the bench also comprising Justice V Gopala Gowda deferred the hearing on the plea of Maran to November 27 and asked the DMK leader to file his response by the next date of hearing.

<p>The petitioner was granted one opportunity to cooperate with investigation which he failed resulting into rejection of anticipatory bail...the petitioner was examined but he refused to co-operate with the investigation and was evasive to many questions. He gave contradictory replies during his examination</p>

<p><b>affidavit filed before a bench headed by justice T S Thakur</b></p>

Anil Ambani gestures as the then Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran looks on at a conference in New Delhi September 5, 2006. (Photo: Reuters)

The investigating agency further said there was evidence on record to substantiate the allegations that Maran in criminal conspiracy with the CGMs of BSNL “illegally” obtained more than 750 telephone numbers under service category.

<p>No approval of DOT was obtained wilfully for any of these connections.</p>

<p><b>a CBI statement said</b></p>

The Supreme Court had earlier extended the stay on a Madras High Court order cancelling the bail of Maran in the case.

The apex court on August 12 had sought CBI’s response on Maran’s plea challenging the High Court order and questioned its decision to arrest him in a case registered in 2013.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and the then Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran at a news conference in New Delhi, December 7, 2005. (Photo: Reuters)

Maran had moved the apex court challenging the Madras High Court’s decision to cancel his bail and asking him to surrender in a case.

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

It had also rejected Maran’s contention that CBI was seeking cancellation of his interim bail only to humiliate him.

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

(With inputs from PTI)