Aircel-Maxis: Dayanidhi, Kalanithi Maran summoned as accused

NEW DELHI: Former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and four others were today summoned as accused by a special court in a Aircel-Maxis deal- related money laundering case, saying there was "enough incriminating material" to proceed against them.

Beside Maran brothers, Special CBI Judge O P Saini also summoned Kalanithi's wife Kavery Kalanithi, K Shanmugam, Managing Director of South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL), and two firms -- SAFL and Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) -- as accused for July 11.

"On perusal of the material on record, I am satisfied that there is enough incriminating material on record to proceed against the accused persons... Issue summons to the accused for July 11," the court said while taking cognisance of the charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The court also asked the ED to continue the ongoing investigation and file fresh complaints, if required.

ED has chargesheeted the six accused under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

During arguments earlier, ED's special prosecutor N K Matta had claimed that there were money transactions which allegedly showed that SDTPL and SAFL had received Rs 742.58 crore as "proceeds of crime" from Mauritius-based firms in the Aircel-Maxis deal.

The agency had claimed that "proceeds of crime" amounting to Rs 549.03 crore and Rs 193.55 crore were received by SDTPL and SAFL, allegedly controlled by co-accused Kalanithi Maran, respectively through various Mauritius-based entities.