CBI books Dayanidhi Maran,BSNL officials

The CBI said a separate series was created,which was known only to BSNL officials,virtually creating a telephone exchange.

The CBI has filed a case against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran for misusing his official position and causing loss of revenue to the exchequer by misutilisation of 323 high-speed telephone lines. The CBI has said that the telephone lines were allotted for Marans residence in Chennai,but were diverted to his brothers Sun TV network.

Two BSNL officials,K Bramhanathan and MP Veluswami,have also been booked for allegedly favouring Maran and Sun TV. It is also alleged that the two senior officials tried to scuttle a probe after reports of alleged misuse came to light.

Sources said Sun TV has also been named,but the CBI spokesperson did not confirm this.

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CBI officials said Maran and the two BSNL officials will soon be summoned and their statements recorded. They have been examined earlier during the preliminary enquiry. We will also question Marans brother also, said a CBI official.

According to the CBI,23 lines were allotted using Basic Rate Access (BRA) with Integrated Switching Digital Network (ISDN). The connections were taken in the name of BSNLs chief general manager at Chennai.

The CBI said a separate series was created,which was known only to BSNL officials,virtually creating a telephone exchange. The BSNL is alleged to have provided cables at the cost of the government,and extended the lines from Marans residence to the office of Sun TV network in January 2007.