CBI awaits AG G E Vahanvati's opinion on chargesheet against Dayanidhi Maran in Aircel-Maxis deal

NEW DELHI: CBI is awaiting the opinion of Attorney General G E Vahanvati on filing the charge sheet against former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran for his alleged involvement in Aircel-Maxis deal, as part of its probe into spectrum allocation scam.

Any further decision will be taken only after receving an opinion from the top law officer of the country, official sources said.

CBI has sought Vahanvati's opinion whether or not it can file the charge sheet against Maran, they said.

It was alleged by former Aircel Chief C Sivasankaran that the then Telecom Minister had favoured Malaysia-based Maxis group in the takeover of his company and in return investments were made by the company through Astro network in Sun TV owned by the Maran family.

Maran, who has been examined by CBI, has denied all the allegations levelled against him and his family members.

The agency had also sought information from the Malaysian authorities through Letters Rogatory but it did not get satisfactory details, after which the judicial requests were sent again. The reply to second LRs is pending.

CBI has gathered evidence to file charge sheet against Maran, the sources said.

CBI has booked Dayanidhi, his brother Kalanithi Maran, Maxis owner T Ananda Krishnan, senior executive Ralph Marshall and three companies Aspro, Maxis and Sun TV in the case on charges of criminal conspiracy under Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Corruption Act.