Dayanadhi Maran accuses CBI of using ‘third degree’ methods

Former union telecom minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party leader Dayanidhi Maran on Thursday joined the chorus of politicians (and independent observers) in accusing the Central Bureau of Investigation of a pro-central government bias, charging it with cooking up evidence.

Maran is charged with setting up an entire telephone exchange in Chennai for his private use.

Alleging the CBI was only trying to please a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue based in Tamil Nadu, Maran told reporters today that the investigations into the case have gone on for eight years though there was not a ''shred of evidence'' against him.

Maran reacted after the CBI arrested three people, including Maran's then additional private secretary V Gauthaman, on Wednesday night in connection with alleged allotment of more than 300 high-speed telephone lines to the then telecom minister's residence in Chennai which were extended to his brother's Sun TV channel.

Besides Gauthaman, CBI arrested chief technical officer S Kannan and electrician LS Ravi of Sun TV network.

Maran went so far as to accuse the agency of torture. "The CBI is using third-degree methods on the arrested persons, who have all along been cooperating with the CBI here in Chennai and in Delhi. These persons were called to Delhi 10 times and cooperated completely with the investigating agency," Maran said.

"They have been told that they would be let off if they spoke against me," he added.

Maran said he would write to the National Human Rights Commission and the CBI director to record his complaint.

"I should be given a fair chance to tell the truth," said Maran at a brief interaction with the media outside the residence of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi at Gopalapuram.

Maran had rushed to meet Karunanidhi hours after the CBI arrested the three persons to explain the situation to his party boss.

"I have done nothing wrong. All the call records are there and also the billing is all metered. These cannot be altered by anyone," Maran said and added that he had got the facilities of telephones just as any other telecommunication minister.