He allegedly used high-speed service connections for commercial purposes for family-owned Sun TV
New Delhi : Refusing to permit custodial interrogation of former communications minister Dayanidhi Maran in a case of alleged commercial use of high-speed Integrated Digital Switch Network for family-owned Sun TV, the Supreme Court on Friday asked him to appear before the CBI from November 30 onwards.
The high-speed Integrated Digital Switch Network, described as service connections, were installed at the Chennai residence of Maran during his stint as minister.
In an order, a bench of Justice T S Thakur and Justice V Gopala Gowda said that Maran would appear before the investigating officer for seven days from November 30 to December 6 from 11 am to 5 pm to answer all the questions.
The court said that he would cooperate in the investigation.
“If necessary, you (CBI) give questionnaires to the officers also,” it added.
As Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi pressed for the custodial interrogation of Maran disputing the contention advanced by senior counsel Abhishek Manu Sinhgvi appearing for him, the court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if it had investigated the then chief general manager of BSNL in Chennai and the other officers accused in the case.
The court asked why the co-accused officials of BSNL have not been asked on whose instructions they had installed the high speed network at the Chennai residence of the then minister and why no bills were raised.
“Did anyone say that they were threatened to carry out instructions,” the court asked Rohatgi as he said that officers maintained that they had installed the lines in pursuance to the verbal order of the then minister and since it was a service connection, no bills were raised.
The court asked Rohatgi as to why the investigating agency was not giving specific questions to the accused officer to reply.
