Aircel Maxis deal: Special 2G court dismisses Maran brothers' application

Chennai: A special 2G court on Saturday dismissed the applications filed by ex-telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi, challenging its jurisdiction to try the Aircel-Maxis deal case in which they have been summoned as accused. The court said it would try the Aircel-Maxis deal case.

Pronouncing the order, the court said, "There is no manner of doubt that by the standard of subject matter and periodicity of alleged crime, the case fairly/squarely falls within the description/ designation of the 2G scam."

"There is no doubt that all these applications are devoid of even an iota of merit and are accordingly dismissed," it added.

During the hearing, the Marans submitted before the court that the Aircel-Maxis dispute was a private matter and not part of the alleged 2G spectrum scam. Therefore, the court designated to deal exclusively with the 2G spectrum scam should not hear the matter

Marans challenged the jurisdiction of the special 2G court in both the cases lodged by the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI.

Dayanidhi Maran, his wife Kalanithi Maran and others had moved their bail pleas in the money laundering case before the court. The next date of hearing of this matter is September 21 when court will fix the date for hearing of bail pleas.

On 16 March, 2015, the Maran brothers had moved separate petitions challenging the jurisdiction of special 2G court to try the Aircel-Maxis deal case.

Dayanidhi Maran, Kaveri Kalanithi, his brother Kalanithi Maran and four others had moved a Delhi Court in July seeking bail in connection with the case.

The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that two firms, South Asia FM Limited (SAFL) and Sun Direct TV Private Ltd. (SDTPL), had received Rs. 742.58 crore as "proceeds of crime" from Mauritius-based firms and that the two firms were then allegedly controlled by Kalanithi Maran.