Aircel-Maxis case: HC seeks Marans’ reply on ED plea

A plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposing the discharge of the Maran brothers in a money laundering case in connection with the Aircel- Maxis deal on Friday led the Delhi High Court to seek their response.

Justice S P Garg issued notice to former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, industrialist Kalanithi Maran and his wife Kavery Kalanithi, South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL), its managing director K Shanmugam and Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) and sought their replies within four weeks on the ED's plea against a February 2 order of a special court.

The special CBI court had by way of two separate orders dismissed the cases lodged by the CBI and the ED against the Marans and others in connection with the Aircel-Maxis deal. The trial court had said that no prima facie case warranting framing of charges was made out against any of the accused on the basis of materials placed on record before it, reports PTI.

Dealing with the moneylaundering case, the trial court had observed that since the accused were discharged in the case of scheduled offences registered by CBI and ED, the matter has become "groundless" and nothing survived in it.

In its petition, the ED has said the special court had not considered the submissions on the alleged illegal acts committed by corporate entities involved in the case.

"As a result, (the court) has failed to appreciate the roles of Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Kalanithi and their use of Maran group companies in committing illegal acts," the agency's petition has claimed.