The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has informed the Supreme Court that a final decision on filing a First Information Report (FIR) against former Minister of Telecommunications and IT, Dayanidhi Maran, will be taken by September 30, 2011, on his alleged role in the Aircel deal.
CBI counsel K.K. Venugopal filed a status report before the court on its investigation of the 2G spectrum case. The status report included the final recommendations regarding the individuals against whom the FIR will be registered in the Aircel deal. The agency said it has completed its preliminary enquiry of the case involving Maran during his tenure as Minister of Telecommunications and IT, adding that letters rogatory has been sent to Mauritius regarding a particular company’s role.
The allegation against Maran is that he had coerced Aircel?s promoter (C. Sivasankaran) to sell the firm to a Malaysian company (the Maxis Group) in March 2006.
The Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), an NGO and a petitioner in the 2G case, had alleged that Aircel obtained the licences in December 2006 after it was taken over by the Maxis Group. Thereafter, the Maxis Group allegedly made investments in Maran’s family-owned business. However, Maran had repeatedly denied all charges.
The CBI counsel said that the agency had questioned Sivasankaran. The CBI counsel also said that there was evidence of undue favour shown to the foreign firm, adding that the agency has also investigated the allegation of quid pro quo in the Aircel deal.
