Dayanidhi Maran received kickbacks of Rs 742 cr: CBI

According to CBI, former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran had supposedly received bribe of Rs742 crore for compelling entrepreneur C. Sivasankaran to sell his Telecom company Aircel to Malaysia-based Maxis.

Despite clearances from the various department, several proposals vital for operation of Aircel were kept pending by Maran. The proposals including licenses for various circles and change in equity were held-off for nearly eight months.

CBI has alleged in its charge sheet file, “Investigation revealed that Dayanidhi Maran, the then telecom minister in abuse of official position constricted the business environment of Aircel Televentures Limited on frivolous ground with an intent to force its exit from telecom business and its sale to Maxis Communication, Malaysia,”

CBI also claimed that Sivasankaran wanted to sell the Aircel Cellular Limited to Aircel Digilink India Ltd, owned by Hutchison Essar Limited. It also said that Maran kept the matter pending despite unanimous approval from the officials of department of telecom. Consequently, Aircel had to withdraw the application after eight months alluding to reasons that the approval for change in equity was not received from the DoT.