The Maran brothers are facing a CBI probe over alleged allotment of 300 high-speed BSNL telephone lines to the residence of former Communications and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran in Chennai which were extended to his brother's channel.
Home Ministry has told the Information and Broadcasting Ministry that it can write to SunTV group giving the reasons for its refusal of security clearance to its 33 channels in case they want to issue a show cause notice to the broadcaster.
The reasons that the Home Ministry has given are understood to be the on-going probe against the group owner.
"The reply from the Home Ministry came yesterday. It was in response to our letter. The Home Ministry said that we can tell the broadcaster the reasons for the show cause as mentioned in the MHA's letter. The I&B Ministry is considering the legal options," an I&B ministry official said.
Pending criminal cases against Kalanithi Maran and his brother and former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran, are said to be the reasons for denial of security clearance.
The Maran brothers are facing a CBI probe over alleged allotment of 300 high-speed BSNL telephone lines to the residence of former Communications and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran in Chennai which were extended to his brother's channel.
There are two other pending criminal probes against SunTV Network and its owner Kalanithi Maran - CBI's Aircel-Maxis case and an Enforcement Directorate case of money laundering.
A security clearance is mandatory for companies to operate channels.
Earlier, the Home Ministry had written to the I&B ministry telling that the security clearance has been denied to the SunTV network after which I&B ministry had been contemplating to issue a show cause notice.
The dilemma of the I&B officials was that if they don't specify reasons for denial of security clearance in the show cause notice, the concerned party won't be getting a chance to present their side.
In most cases, sources said, the Home Ministry does not clarify why security clearance was denied.
But, after a recent letter by the I&B Ministry, the MHA gave the reasons to its counterpart yesterday.
Meanwhile, the I&B Ministry is examining all legal options.
Significantly, even if a show cause notice is issued, the channel may not be immediately put off-air as the entire process may take some time.
A few days back, the I&B Ministry had written to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seeking reasons behind the denial of security clearance to 33 channels of Kalanithi Maran-promoted Sun TV Network, so that it can take further action.
A senior I&B Ministry official said that the principle of natural justice demands that the concerned party was also given a hearing if any action has to be taken.
The I&B Ministry issues broadcasting licences for which companies require a security nod from MHA.
With the security nod being denied, the I&B Ministry was considering issuing a show cause notice but for that it would need to know the reasons as to why the clearance was not given.
It is learnt that in an earlier instance, the I&B Ministry had found itself in a tight spot over an order asking the Maran family-run Kal Cables to stop operating after MHA declined to give it security clearance.
The I&B Ministry had earlier been informed about the decision of the MHA denying security clearance to the TV network, which is believed to have been influenced by pending criminal cases against Maran and his brother, former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran, official sources said.
The television channels could, however, seek a legal recourse. The SunTV Network is one of India's largest media group whose TV channels reach more than 95 million households in India.
The network had applied to the I&B Ministry for renewing its broadcasting licence for 10 years for which it needed the MHA nod.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}