CHENNAI : Nearly two months after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached Rs 742 crore worth properties belonging to former Union Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his family in the Aircel-Maxis deal case, the Madras High Court has reserved its orders on a petition seeking to stay the attachment.
Mr Justice M Sathyanarayanan reserved the orders last evening after senior counsel P S Raman argued against immediate dispossession of the properties of Marans, as the listed assets included their residences as well.
According to CBI, Dayanidhi Maran, who was the Union telecom minister between 2004 and 2007, entered into a criminal conspiracy against Aircel owner Sivasankaran and stalled approvals for spectrum licences to the company, thereby forcing him to sell his company stakes to Malaysia-based Maxis Communication.
As a quid pro quo, Maxis invested Rs 742 crore in Sun Group, owned my Dayanidhi Maran’s brother Kalanithi Maran, by way of buying shares in the group. Mr Raman also argued that how could the ED attach three houses purchased years before the alleged 2G scam took place and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act itself came into force.
Additional Solicitor-General of India G Rajagopal, in his arguments, questioned the validity of the case saying the Supreme Court had already said other courts could not entertain any case pertaining to the 2G scam.
He said the Aircel-Maxis deal arose out of the 2G spectrum case, which was being monitored by the Supreme Court. Any orders in the case will impede the ongoing investigation. (AGENCIES)
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