CBI can’t charge me as probe incomplete, Maran tells SC

Former telecommunications minister Dayanidhi Maran today urged the Supreme Court to restrain the Central Bureau of Investigation from filing a charge-sheet against him in the Aircel-Maxis deal as investigation of the case is yet to be completed.

Maran contended that under the law, the investigating agency could not file a charge-sheet without completing the investigation.

The apex court bench headed by Justice H L Dattu said that it would hear the matter at 2 pm after it was mentioned by senior counsel C A Sundaram and Amrendra Sharan.

Earlier, the CBI had decided to go ahead with the filing of charges following Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi's opining that there was enough evidence gathered by the agency to go ahead with the filing of the charge-sheet against Maran in Aircel-Maxis deal that was concluded in 2006.

Senior counsel K K Venugopal, appearing for the CBI, had told the apex court bench of Justices H L Dattu, Pinaki Chandra Ghosh and S A Bobde earlier that the charge-sheet would be based on evidence collected within the country as the Malaysian authorities were refusing to cooperate.

Rohtagi's opinion was sought following sharp differences between the CBI Director Ranjit Sinha and another director on launching prosecution.

Sinha held there was not sufficient evidence to proceed against Maran.

C Sivasankaran, the original owner of Aircel, had alleged that he was pressured by Maran to sell the company to Maxis owned by T Ananda Krishnan.

The agency has also claimed quid pro quo on this matter, saying that in return the Malaysian company invested Rs650 crore in Sun TV owned by the Maran family.