JOIN USIn a major setback to the Maran brothers, the Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed the petition filed by the Sun TV network against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attaching properties worth Rs 742 crore owned by them in connection with the Aircel-Maxis deal case.
The Sun TV network is owned by the Maran brothers — former Union IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanidhi Maran.
When the petition filed by Kal cables came up for hearing, Justice Satyanarayana said since the case was being heard by the Supreme Court, the petitioner could approach the apex court and dismissed the petition.
The counsel for ED argued that the matter is being supervised by the Supreme Court. The hearing of the matter by any other court would impede the investigation by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
On April 1, the ED said it has attached properties worth Rs 742.58 crore belonging to Sun TV’s principal promoter Kalanithi Maran, his wife Kaveri Kalanithi and his brother Dayanidhi Maran, who was a minister in the previous United Progress Alliance (UPA) government, in the Aircel-Maxis case.
The CBI had alleged that Dayanidhi Maran, during his tenure as a Union Minister, had forced Chennai-based telecom promoter C Sivasankaran to sell his stakes in Aircel and two subsidiary firms to Malaysian firm Maxis Group in 2006.
Sivasankaran alleged that Dayanidhi Maran favoured the Maxis Group in the takeover of his firm. He also alleged that the company made investments through Astro Network in a firm purportedly owned by the Maran brothers.