PM must tell Maran to go,says Jaya

“I am sure he will do it if he hasn’t already done that,” said Jaya.

Jaya was reacting to queries about reports that Dayanidhi Maran,during his tenure as the union telecom minister,had first fettered the operations of the cellular and internet service provider Aircel by not clearing their applications for additional spectrum and extending their area of operations. This eventually forced the promoter to sell the company to a Malaysian firm. Maran is then reported to have showered favours on the company after the new group assumed ownership,the reports alleged.

The whole episode,which took place before the infamous 2G spectrum sale scam,was significant enough for retired Justice Sivaraj Patil to mention it in critical terms in the report of the one-man committee that was constituted following the furore over the scam.

In return,the news report alleged,the Sun Group owned by the Maran brothers — Dayanidhi and Kalanidhi — received funds from the Malaysian firm Maxis,owned by a Lankan Tamil entrepreneur,that ran into several crores.

In view of these charges,Dayanidhi Maran,currently Union Minister for Textiles,”should quit and face the law,” added Jayalalithaa,amid speculation that he could be questioned by the CBI.

Maran has issued a legal notice against Tehelka over the news report .