Court seeks CBI response on Marans' plea on 2G court jurisdiction

New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) A court here issued notice to the CBI on Monday on the pleas of former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi Maran challenging the jurisdiction of the special 2G court to try the Aircel-Maxis deal case in which they have been summoned as accused along with others.

Special CBI judge O.P. Saini sought a response from the investigating agency and posted the matter for August 3.

The Marans' plea said the special court was set up to hear 2G matters only and the case against them was not related but even then the trial court judge has clubbed it with 2G cases and taken cognizance.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also filed its response on the bail pleas of the Maran brothers which will also be heard on August 3, along with the plea challenging the court's jurisdiction.

The judge also issued fresh summons to the four other accused - Malaysian businessmen T. Ananda Krishnan and Augustus Ralph Marshall and two accused firms - after the CBI told the court that summons issued against them have not been served yet.

The agency has alleged that Dayanidhi Maran used his influence to help Krishnan buy Aircel by coercing its owner Sivasankaran to part with his stake.

It was alleged by Sivasankaran that Dayanidhi Maran favoured the Maxis Group in the takeover of his company. In return, he further alleged, the company made investments through Astro Network in a company stated to be owned by the Maran family.

Four companies - Chennai-based Sun Direct TV, Britain-based Astro All Asia Networks, Maxis Communications Berhad of Malaysia and the South Asia Entertainment Holdings of Mauritius - have also been named in the charges filed on August 29 last year.

The CBI said there was sufficient evidence to prosecute the accused.

The probe agency has booked all the accused on charges of criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code as well as provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.