Accordingly a Special CBI Court in Chennai framed charges against former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother, founder of Sun TV Network Kalanithi Maran, in the alleged illegal telephone exchange case. Recently Judge R Vasanthi also framed charges against five others former BSNL General Manager K Brahmanandam, former Deputy General Manager MP Velusamy, Dayanidhi Maran’s Private Secretary Gauthaman, Sun TV employees Kannan and Ravi in the case on Wednesday.
Meanwhile all accused were charged under IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 409 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating), and the Prevention of Corruption Act. Furthermore denying the charges, Dayanidhi Maran called the case “politically motivated”, stating there was no evidence to prove that the connections were given illegally and in violation of law. Reportedly with no bills raised during this period, the CBI said that alleged illegal telephone exchange cost the government a loss of Rs 1.78 crore.
Moreover it was in March 2018 that a Special CBI court in Chennai discharged all the accused citing lack of material to frame charges against them. Apparently in July last year, the Madras High Court set aside the order, observing there was enough material against the accused to go ahead with the case and it was then sent back to the Special CBI court, while the Marans then moved the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s order, the apex court ordered the accused to face trial in the case.
