CBI will grill Maxis officials

Jul 20, 2011 - PRAMOD KUMAR |

Age Correspondent

New Delhi

The CBI officials, probing alleged violations regarding spectrum allocation between 2001 and 2007, are likely to record the statements of officials of the Malaysia-based Maxis group by the end of this month over the alleged Aricel-Maxis deal. If required, the agency officials may record the statements of Maxis officials, based in Malaysia, through video-conferencing, sources said.

The agency, which has already initiated its investigation into the preliminary enquiry (PE) registered to probe criminal aspects, if any, in the allotment of spectrum licences since 2001, recently recorded the statement of a senior employee of a private bank over Aircel-Maxis deal, which had taken place during former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran.
“Now, officials of the probe agency are preparing to record the statements of Maxis employees by the end of this month. The CBI officials are in touch with Maxis officials. If required their statements may be recorded through video-conferencing”.
Recording the statements of Maxis employees, will part of the probe under the PE, therefore, the CBI officials can not force them or call them at the agency headquarters for their clarification over the issue, sources added.
“Without registering a regular case, the agency does not have power to call anybody to the CBI headquarters for recording the statement. If required, they can send their signed statements also,” sources said. The agency is expected to complete its probe under the PE by September 30, sources said. “If the agency decides to convert the PE into a regular case, then only CBI can send summons to the people”, they added.
The CBI officials have already recorded the statement of former Aircel chief C. Sivasankaran. Sivasankaran alleged that he was forced to sell his stake in Aircel by Maran and his brother Kalanidhi at a very low price to Malaysia-based Maxis, considered closed to Marans. The CBI officials are also planning to record the statement of Maran’s brother Kalanidhi, who owns Sun TV, over alleged Aircel-Maxis deal.

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