ED summons Maran brothers

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The Enforcement Directorate has issued summons against Maran brothers-- Dayanidhi and Kalanidhi -- in connection with its probe in the Aircel-Maxis deal in the 2G spectrum allocation case.

The agency has summoned both the brothers, former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother and Sun TV MD Kalanidhi Maran, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

While Dayanidhi or his authorised representative has been asked to depose before the agency on March 20, Kalanidhi or his authorised agent has been asked to meet the investigators a day later, with documents of their personal transactions and those dealing with their businesses.

The agency has registered a case in this regard under anti-money laundering laws last month pertaining to an alleged illegal gratification of about Rs 550 crore allegedly received by the Maran brothers in the Aircel-Maxis deal.

Maran, a former Union Telecom Minister, had quit from the Cabinet last year after allegations were made that he had favoured Malaysian firm Maxis over Aircel in grant of telecom licences in 2004-05.

Maran had denied the allegations. ED has also recorded the statements of various other associates of Marans during its probe in the case.

The CBI too is probing the brothers in connection with these allegations. The agency is also investigating the case for alleged contravention of foreign exchange rules.

The agency has also registered another case in the 2G case, pertaining to the NDA regime and has named former telecom secretary Shyamal Ghosh, then deputy director general J R Gupta and few telecom companies for alleged irregularities in the grant of additional 2G spectrum during 2001-03.

The ED is also expected to record the statements of some other individuals it has named named in its complaint with regard to the Aircel-Maxis deal.