CBI likely to "examine" Maran soon

New Delhi, Aug 2: Former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran may be "examine" soon by CBI in connection with his alleged role in coercing former Aircel Chief C Sivasankaran to sell his stake to a Malaysia-based group.

As the agency winds up its probe in the allocation of 2G spectrum between 2008-09, CBI sources said Maran, who resigned as Textile Minister last month, will be asked to answer on the allegations levelled by Sivasankaran and spectrum policy changes made during his tenure during UPA-I.

The sources said the agency would soon wrap up the Preliminary Enquiry on the issue of spectrum allocation during the period 2001-07 which spans across three Telecom Ministers -- Pramod Mahajan, Arun Shourie and Dayanidhi Maran-- before registering a regular case.

Before registering a regular case, the former Telecom Minister will be given an opportinity to appear before CBI and give his statement, the sources said.

The agency is examining financial transactions of Sun TV, owned by the Maran family, and Malaysia-based Maxis. It is also looking into various aspects of takeover of Aircel by Maxis group, they said.

Arun Shourie, who had held the charge of Telecom Ministry between 2003-04, recorded his statement with CBI on February 25 about allocation of telecom airwaves during his tenure but the agency has so far not found anything against him, they said.

The agency has registered a PE against "unnamed persons" on the Supreme Court's directive to probe whether there was any anomaly in ''first-come-first-served'' policy for spectrum allocation.

PTI