The CBI is set to send letter of requests (LRs) to authorities concerned in Mauritius and Malaysia to get details about certain companies based there in connection with its ongoing probe related to the alleged Aircel-Maxis deal. The Aircel-Maxis deal had taken place during the tenure of former communications minister Dayanidhi Maran.
According to sources, the agency officials probing the case are busy in finalising questions, whose answers will be sought in the LRs. The CBI is expected to send the LRs to the Union home ministry next week for its clearance. “Once the agency gets clearance from the ministry of home affairs, the LRs will be sent to Mauritius and Malaysia through diplomatic channel,” sources said.
“The agency officials are confident that LRs to Mauritius and Malaysia will be sent by the end of this month. Probe by the agency has revealed that a Mauritius-based company allegedly routed money to an Indian telecom company through a Malaysian firm when the Aircel-Maxis deal was taking place. Role of the Mauritius-based company is crucial in the Aircel-Maxis deal,” sources said. The LR is a formal request issued by a competent court to a foreign court and processed by the ministry of external affairs on behalf of the investigative agencies to obtain information about individuals and entities.
The agency will request authorities concerned in Mauritius and Malaysia to provide financial details of certain companies based there. The agency will also request the authorities concerned in Mauritius and Malaysia to record the statement of some witnesses, who will be examined there, and it should be authenticated, sources added. The CBI will further request the authority concerned in Mauritius to collect original documents from certain companies based there, sources added.
The CBI has registered a case against Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanidhi Maran and five others over the alleged irregularities in Aircel-Maxis deal. The agency in its FIR alleged that Mr Maran was involved in “abetting the acceptance of illegal gratification”, estimated to be worth over `540 crores, from the Malaysian firm. The FIR also accused Mr Maran of criminal misconduct during his stint in 2004/07 in the communications ministry.