CBI seeks cancellation of Maran bail

CHENNAI: Former Union telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran deliberately hid facts and gave contradictory replies during his questioning in connection with the illegal telephone exchange case, CBI has told the Madras high court, seeking cancellation of the interim anticipatory bail granted to him. It said the DMK leader's custodial interrogation is a must.
Maran was granted conditional anticipatory bail by Justice R Subbiah on June 30, hours before he was to be questioned by CBI in New Delhi. He was questioned on July 1, 2 and 3.
"The accused, despite sustained examination, did not intentionally furnish any relevant information which is in his exclusive knowledge, and was evasive, giving contradictory replies. He was deliberately hiding facts to save himself and others," said CBI Special Task Force DSP Rajesh Kumar in a petition.
"While granting bail, this court imposed certain conditions, including that Maran would cooperate with the inquiry, and if he did not, the CBI was at liberty to move the high court for cancellation of the interim anticipatory bail," the petition said.
"He was examined thoroughly but he retracted his earlier version and gave many evasive answers to questions put before him. He was also asked to provide some information, which was also not complete and did not match with the statement given by him during his examination. He is not cooperating with the investigation. In the nature of the case, the CBI is of the opinion that custodial interrogation of Dayanidhi Maran is required," said the agency.
It is CBI's case that Maran, when he was telecom minister in the UPA government, used a total of 764 telephone lines, established a mini telephone exchange at his residences and purchased telecom equipment at public cost for personal use. All the facilities were used to carry the data of Sun TV owned by his brother Kalanithi Maran, it said, adding that the estimated loss to the exchequer was Rs 1.78 crore. In order to suppress the fraud, he prepared a false and ante-dated document projecting that he had only one connection in his name, and that there was no outstanding dues, the agency said.
Citing the 'gravity' of the offence and seeking cancellation of the six-week anticipatory bail, the central agency further said, "Maran has played an integral role in the criminal conspiracy, and had abused his official position to its maximum, and because of this reason he has been named in the FIR as first accused. During investigation conducted so far, the incriminating role of Maran has come to light." The case is likely to be listed and taken up for hearing on Tuesday, court sources told TOI.