Aircel-Maxis case: HC seeks Marans’ reply on ED’s plea

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought response from former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his industrialist brother Kalanithi Maran and others, to a notice issued on an appeal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case.

Justice S P Garg issued notice to former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, industrialist Kalanithi Maran and his wife Kavery Kalanithi, South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL), its managing director K Shanmugam and Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) and sought their replies within four weeks on the ED's plea against a 2 February order of a special court.

The Enforcement Directorate moved the Delhi High Court challenging the special CBI court's 2 February order that discharged Marans and the two companies of all charges in a money laundering case in connection with the Aircel-Maxis deal, citing lack of evidence.

Special CBI judge OP Saini while discharging them had said that the charges were based on ''misreading of official files'', speculations and surmises of the complainant.

It also found no prima facie case warranting framing of charges against any of the accused on the basis of the materials placed on record before it by the ED.

The ED had alleged that the two firms, which were then controlled by Kalanithi, had received Rs742 crore as proceeds of crime from Mauritius-based companies Maxis Communications Berhad and All Asia Networks, owned by Malaysian businessman T Anand Krishnan.

The directorate had also attached properties, including shares, movable and immovable assets worth Rs742.58 crore on the allegation that the money was paid for Dayanidhi by two Mauritius-based companies through Sun Direct TV and South Asia FM.

The ED had chargesheeted the Maran brothers, Kavery, South Asia FM and its managing director K Shanmugam and Sun Direct TV under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.