Illegal telephone exchange case: SC rejects Kalanithi Maran's plea

The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed a plea filed by industrialist Kalanithi Maran challenging a Madras High Court verdict setting aside a trial court order discharging him in a case relating to the alleged setting up of illegal telephone exchanges. 

A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Navin Sinha and K M Joseph rejected Maran's plea, following which he, along with his brother and former Union Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and others, would have to face trial in the case.

On 30th of last month, the apex court had rejected a plea filed by Dayanidhi challenging the high court's 25th July order and asked him to face trial



in the case. 

The case relates to the period when Dayanidhi Maran was the Minister for Communications and Information Technology during the tenure of UPA-1 government.

The CBI has alleged that he had misused his official position and got private telephone exchanges installed at his residences in Chennai. The agency alleged, these telephone lines were used for Sun Network's business transactions.

The special CBI court had on 14th March discharged the Maran brothers and five other accused, holding there is no prima facie case against them.