CHENNAI: Expressing doubt whether former Union Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran received notice on the petition moved by CBI to cancel his anticipatory bail, the Madras High Court adjourned the matter to Monday.
Pointing out that of the six weeks anticipatory bail granted to Dayanidhi, four weeks had already expired, Justice R Subbiah said, "What is the urgency in moving this petition when only two weeks of AB is pending."
On July 16, the central agency accusing that Dayanidhi Maran is deliberately suppressing information in the multi-crore illegal BSNL Telephone Exchange scandal to save himself and others, approached the High Court to cancel his anticipatory bail so that he can be taken into custody for interrogation.
The allegation against Dayanidhi Maran is that as a Member of Parliament, he was entitled to only three telephone connections (one for his constituency, one for Delhi residence and one broadband connection) and two mobile connections, subject to an annual cumulative consumption of 1,50,000 calls. Whereas, Maran in collusion with the then BSNL Chennai Telephones Chief General Manager K Brahmadathan, illegally obtained 364 actual telephone numbers/lines consisting therein high end connections at his Gopalapuram residence in Chennai under service category. No bills were raised and no payments were made to BSNL towards these connections.
Besides, in December 2006 when Maran shifted his residence to Boat Club Road, a proposal to shift the existing facilities to the new bungalow was mooted in collusion with the new BSNL CGM M P Velusamy. During this shifting process, the accused illegally obtained another 363 high end connections under service category. The CBI has estimated loss amounting to Rs 1,78,71,391 to the exchequer.