<p>In fresh trouble for Maran brothers of Sun Network, the Madras High Court on Wednesday set aside a lower court order discharging Dayanidhi and Kalanidhi Maran from the illegal telephone exchange case.<br /><br />The court, while allowing the appeal by the CBI, directed the agency to frame charges against the brothers and others in the case within 12 weeks.<br /><br />CBI alleges that Dayanidhi Maran misused his position as Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology by installing a private telephone exchange consisting of 764 high-speed lines to be used by Sun Network, owned by his brother Kalanidhi.<br /><br />Since no bills were raised for the telephone lines, it caused a loss of Rs 1.78 crore to the exchequer. Marans own the Sun Network, which has interests in television, newspaper and radio, is one of the largest media companies in the country. The case has been hanging like a Damocles’ sword for the Maran brothers.<br /><br />A Special CBI court had in March this year discharged the Maran brothers and five others in the case holding that there was no prima facie evidence to prove charges against them. However, the CBI challenged the order before the High Court last month.<br /><br />Justice G Jayachandran set aside the order of the lower court and asked the CBI to frame charges against the accused within 12 weeks.</p>
<p>In fresh trouble for Maran brothers of Sun Network, the Madras High Court on Wednesday set aside a lower court order discharging Dayanidhi and Kalanidhi Maran from the illegal telephone exchange case.<br /><br />The court, while allowing the appeal by the CBI, directed the agency to frame charges against the brothers and others in the case within 12 weeks.<br /><br />CBI alleges that Dayanidhi Maran misused his position as Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology by installing a private telephone exchange consisting of 764 high-speed lines to be used by Sun Network, owned by his brother Kalanidhi.<br /><br />Since no bills were raised for the telephone lines, it caused a loss of Rs 1.78 crore to the exchequer. Marans own the Sun Network, which has interests in television, newspaper and radio, is one of the largest media companies in the country. The case has been hanging like a Damocles’ sword for the Maran brothers.<br /><br />A Special CBI court had in March this year discharged the Maran brothers and five others in the case holding that there was no prima facie evidence to prove charges against them. However, the CBI challenged the order before the High Court last month.<br /><br />Justice G Jayachandran set aside the order of the lower court and asked the CBI to frame charges against the accused within 12 weeks.</p>
