Maran to face CBI grilling this month

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CBI is set to question former communications minister Dayanidhi Maran in connection with its probe related to alleged irregularities in the Aircel-Maxis deal.

The agency, which registered a case against Mr Maran, his brother Kalanidhi Maran and five others over alleged irregularities in the Aircel-Maxis deal on October 9, is likely to question the former minister in the second week of January.

According to sources, CBI recently recorded statements of some senior DoT officials in connection with the case. The agency officials also collected fresh documents from DoT in this regard, sources added.

“The documents recently collected from DoT are being further examined by CBI officials. If required, agency officials will also record the statements of some former officials of DoT in this regard,” the sources said.

The agency will soon issue summons to Mr Dayanidhi Maran for questioning in this connection. CBI, in its FIR, alleged that Mr Maran was involved in abetting the acceptance of illegal gratification, estimated to be worth over Rs 540 crore, from the Malaysian firm.

The FIR also accused Mr Maran of criminal misconduct during his 2004-07 stint in the telecom ministry.

The agency is preparing to send letters of request (LRs) to concerned authorities in Mauritius and Malaysia to get details of certain companies based there in connection with its ongoing probe related to the alleged Aircel-Maxis deal.

The probe has established that a Mauritius-based company allegedly routed money to an Indian telecom company through a Malaysian firm when the Aircel-Maxis deal was taking place.