BSNL scam: CBI files chargesheet against Maran; says Rs 1.78 crore lost to taxpayer

The CBI which is probing the case has also named two BSNL General Managers and Marian's then personal secretary.

The Central Bureau of Investigation today filed a chargesheet against former Telecom Minister, Dayanidhi Maran in connection with the telephone exchange scam. The chargesheet was also filed against Marian's brother Kalanithi and others.

The CBI which is probing the case has also named two BSNL General Managers and Marian's then personal secretary. The CBI has alleged that there was a loss of Rs 1.78 crore to the exchequer and in the chargesheet the Marans have been booked under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code.

The chargesheet states that between June 2004 and December 2006 there were about 364 telephone numbers/lines installed at the Maran residence at Gopalpuram in Chennai.
During the months of December 2006 and September 2007 about 353 telephone lines had been installed at the the Ist Avenue Boat Club Road, Chennai, Marans new residence. There were 10 post paid mobile connections with vanity numbers in respect of nine numbers were given to a private television channel. This order was given by Maran orally when he was the telecom minister, the CBI has also alleged.

The CBI further states that these connections were given under the service category and there was no bill that had been raised. The high speed telephone lines had benefitted the television channel owned by Maran's brother Kalanithi, the CBI also alleged. No payments had been made for the installation and there were no rental charges for these connections which included ISDN-PRA-BRA, broadband, leased circuits with optical fiber cable laying, connecting both the residences, the CBI has also alleged.

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