Telephone exchange scam: CBI has over 100 questions for Dayanidhi Maran

Bengaluru, July 1: The Central Bureau of Investigation has some tough questions for Dayanidhi Maran, former union telecom minister in connection with the telephone exchange scam.

Maran who is all set to appear before the CBI today for questioning will have at least 100 questions to answer and if the need be the questioning could spill over into the next day as well, CBI sources informed OneIndia.

Maran has been summoned for questioning for his alleged involvement in the scam in which 323 high-data capacity BSNL telecom lines were being used at his Boat Club residence in Chennai.

Tough questions await Maran

The CBI which has been probing this case for four years now, will rely heavily on the statements that Maran would make before it. His aides have been questioned in the past and it has been found that the entire scam was carried out to benefit the Sun TV group run by the Maran brothers.

Maran will face tough questions regarding his involvement in this scam which is worth around Rs 440 crore. Maran would have to tell the CBI if he had used his network when he was a minister to install the high speed ISDN phone lines.

The lines were found to be routed from Maran's residence illegally to the Sun TV which helped facilitate fast data transfer. Maran will be asked to explain why he facilitated this illegal line despite knowing that it would cause a huge loss to the BSNL.

Several rounds of questioning if needed

The CBI says that they would extend the questioning if the need be. Apart from the key questions which pertain to his alleged role, he will also be asked to explain the answers given by his aides.

The CBI has also questioned a host of people in connection with this scam. It has questioned Gowthaman former additional private secretary to Dayanidhi Madan, S Kammam, Chief Technical Officer at Sun TV and K S Ravi electrician in the channel (Sun TV).

In addition to this officials from the BSNL who have alleged that there was pressure on them to install these lines illegally were also questioned. Maran will asked about the pressure he allegedly exerted on these members.

CBI officials, part of the Special Task Force, informed that they want to gather some crucial evidence on this aspect of the case. Officials said, "We want to find out how the telephone exchange was set up in Maran's house."

"Further we are also trying to gather details on those BSNL officers ‎who allegedly at the behest of Maran alloted these high speed telephone lines," said the officials. "We believe that there has been misuse of power which was aimed at benefiting the Sun TV group," the CBI official added.

OneIndia News