CBI case may seal Dayanidhi Maran’s fate

Dayanidhi Maran’s troubles are far from over. The CBI will soon register a case against the former cabinet minister for his alleged involvement in the 2G spectrum allotment scandal. In its report on the 2G scam, the CBI has said Maran, the telecom minister in 2006, forced industrialist C Sivasankaran to sell his share in Aircel to the Maxis Group of Malaysia by stonewalling a request to grant the company UAS licences.

Three officials of the department of telecommunications, one retired and two serving, have corroborated Sivasankaran’s allegations against Maran during 2004-2006. Maran’s secretary, Nripender Mishra, and officials PK Mittal and RJS Kushwaha are believed to have provided substantial evidence against the former minister to the investigating agency.

“Their testimony has given us substantial leads to register a case against Maran,” a CBI officer told DNA. “It will be registered as soon as we complete recording the statements of all key witnesses. We do not need the PMO’s nod to conduct a probe against him for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.”

The officer, however, said the CBI would have to inform the speaker of the Lok Sabha before making any arrest. “Maran will be summoned for questioning once we register a case,” he said. A CBI source said the three officials said Maran had stalled the granting of licences to Sivasankaran for more than two years.