Ex-Aircel chief points fingers at Maran

Sivasankaran says the DMK leader forced him to sell his business when he was telecom minister. Maran has denied the charges

Ex-Aircel chief points fingers at Maran

Sivasankaran says the DMK leader forced him to sell his business when he was telecom minister. Maran has denied the charges

Former Aircel chief C. Sivasankaran was questioned on Monday by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials who sought clarifications from him regarding the agency's ongoing probe into 2G spectrum allocation scam. CBI sources said Sivasankaran was asked about series of events and certain expositions about alleged irregularities and violations in allocation of spectrum to Aircel, a telecom firm set up by him which was later acquired by the Malaysian company Maxis. However, the biggest news point that emerged was his charges against union textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran.

Dayanidhi Maran. File pic

According to CBI sources, Sivasankaran told the agency yesterday that he was forced to sell stake in his company after his applications for telecom licence were rejected by Dayanidhi Maran in 2006. He said he was compelled to sell his share in Aircel to Malaysia's Maxis Communications, whose owner is reported to be close to Maran and his brother Kalanithi, who owns Sun TV.

Sivasankaran heads the USD three billion conglomerate Siva Group, with operations in realty, telecom, shipping, energy, agri-exports and e-education/software. Sources said his statements were being recorded at an undisclosed location in the Capital. Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Maran denied the allegations. "No one can force anyone to sell the business. Moreover, Aircel ventures have been there from time to time in the media, and I have paper cuttings which state the same," he said.

"Although most of the channels are trying to make a story today, saying that I forced, arm-twisted and strangulated to sell a business to the other person... let me tell you that Sivasankaran is not a millionaire, but a multi-millionaire. The paper cutting clearly proves that this particular company was parading itself much before I became a telecom minister. I have never had to force anyone to sell the business," he added. The DMK MP is facing charges of bending rules for granting 14 licences to Dishnet Wireless (now Aircel) during his tenure as telecom minister .

Taking stock
Extending its gains on the bourses, shares of Sun TV Network, jumped by nearly 8 per cent on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Monday, after the company denied any involvement in the 2G scam.
Media conglomerate Sun TV settled 7.20 per cent higher at Rs 303.85 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). In intra-day, the stock spurted by 7.93 per cent to touch a high of Rs 305.95.
In the previous session, the stock settled with 4.17 per cent gains. In a similar fashion, the scrip zoomed up by 7.96 per cent to close at Rs 306.35 on the NSE.