NEW DELHI: The CBI on Monday moved an application in a special CBI court seeking arrest warrants against two Malaysian nationals and two companies — Maxis Communication Berhad and Astro All Asia Network PLC — accused in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case involving ex-Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi Maran.
The accused included Malaysian business tycoon T Ananda Krishnan, Malaysian national Augustus Ralph Marshall and four companies Sun Direct TV Pvt. Ltd (SDTPL), Maxis Communication Berhad, South Asia Entertainment Holding Ltd and Astro All Asia Network. CBI told Special Court Judge O P Saini that the arrest warrants were sought as the summons had not been served on the accused.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on May 25, 2016, had issued summons under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for examining Ananda Krishnan. The very next day, another summons was issued to examine Ralph Marshall. Both the summons were sent to Malaysia through the Ministry of Home Affairs. Meanwhile, the Marans challenged the jurisdiction of special 2G court to try the Aircel-Maxis deal-related money laundering case, stating that it was not part of the 2G spectrum scam and cannot be heard by the designated judge who has been nominated to exclusively deal with the 2G scam cases.
Former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran, Kalanithi’s wife Kavery Kalanithi, managing director of South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL) K Shanmugam, and companies SAFL and SDTPL were among those summoned by the court as accused.
The ED opposed the bail plea of Maran brothers in the case citing that the money laundering aspect is still being probed and the possibility of tampering with the evidence and influencing witnesses may not be ruled out. The court slated the case for further hearing on August 27.