Maran statement recorded by CBI

NEW DELHI: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths on Monday recorded the statement of former Union telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran in connection with its probe into allegations that he installed a virtual telephone exchange at his Chennai residence from 2004-2007. This allegedly caused a loss of up to ₹1.8 crore to the exchequer.

Maran’s questioning occurred in the wake of a recent Supreme Court order rejecting the CBI’S plea for taking the minister into custody while directing him to appear before the agency from 11am to 5pm for six days for answering its questions.

Earlier on August 10, the Madras high court had cancelled Maran’s interim anticipatory bail and directed him to surrender before the CBI in three days, holding that “prima facie” Maran had allegedly misused his office by illegally obtaining phone connections and charges against him were backed up by material.

The high court’s order was challenged in the apex court by Maran 300 of the telecommunication facilities used at Maran’s residence were under the high-speed category. Maran had allegedly used, in collusion with two senior Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) officials now retired, the virtual telephone exchange for a Chennai-based television company owned by his brother.

Maran did not interact with the media at the CBI headquarters. He had earlier denied allegations of any wrongdoing.

The telecommunication facilities were treated under the service category and no bills were allegedly raised from 2004 to 2007, according to the CBI. “The employees of BSNL-MTNL were given service connection as per their entitlement and for which they were not required to make any payments, and these facilities were misutilised in the said case,” said the source.

The CBI, earlier in January, had arrested three persons in the case for their alleged involvement — the television company’s then chief technical officer and then electrician, and Maran’s then aide. The agency had lodged a case to probe the irregularities in July 2013 against three persons — the former minister and two former