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2G scam: CBI noose tightens around Dayanidhi Maran

In the past one week, the federal investigating agency have recorded statements of about 20 witnesses, who have given their testimony to establish former telecom minister�s wrongdoing during his tenure.

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After former textile minister Dayanidhi Maran’s departure from the Union cabinet, the CBI has accelerated its probe against him. In the past one week, the federal investigating agency have recorded statements of about 20 witnesses, who have given their testimony to establish former telecom minister’s wrongdoing during his tenure.

“About 18-20 people have so far recorded their statement before CBI and most of them are from the department of telecommunication.

Testimony given by them will further strengthen our case against Dayanidhi Maran about various prejudiced decisions taken by him during his tenure,” a senior CBI official told DNA. CBI has maintained that it is scheduled to complete its probe into the Maran episode by September 30.

CBI official also told that some executives of a Malaysian bank are expected to appear before CBI on Wednesday, as the bank’s name has been figured during investigation to facilitate money trail in Aircel-Maxis deal.

Sources in CBI claim that it has approached the bank because it was the banker for transactions for the deal between Aircel and Maxis. Only last month the CBI has approached the bank’s Indian operation official for seeking sharing information pertaining to the deal. Some documents of Maxis to Aircel and then Maxis to Sun TV have already been handed over to the probing agency by the bank.

In his complaint before the CBI, former Aircel owner Sivasankaran has alleged that he forced to sell his stakes to Malaysian based Maxis, owned by T Ananda Krishnan. Sivasankar also alleged that he was only paid $800 million for selling his stake in Aircel much below the actual cost.

And in return, Maxis invested Rs630 crore in Sun TV, owned by Dayanidhi Maran’s brother Kalanidhi Maran. CBI suspects that this money was quid pro quo to DMK.

“Aircel was denied licenses despite availability of adequate spectrum and clearance from the defence ministry. But licenses were only issued to Aircel, once it was sold to Maxis,” CBI official added.

The Shivraj Patil committee report has also mentioned several of the delays and names former telecom secretaries as being part of the process in delaying Aircel/Dishnet Wireless and then attempting to favour it after Sivasankaran sold his stake.

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