Aircel-Maxis case: Maran brothers, 4 others get court summons

Former communication minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and four others were on Saturday summoned as accused by a special court in a Aircel-Maxis deal related to 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 chargesheet filed by the ED.

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

The ED has chargesheeted the six accused under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

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. The ED prosecutor had referred to the details of money transactions between these firms and alleged that SDTPL had received Rs 549.03 crore from Mauritius-based firm M/s South Asia Entertainment Holding Ltd. The ED had earlier alleged before the court that Dayanidhi had generated funds worth Rs 742.58 crore through illegal means.