2G spectrum case: Sun, Maxis under CBI scanner

CBI does not rule out questioning former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran in connection with spectrum allocation during his tenure in UPA-I government.

But that is likely to take place after agency finds it fit to register a regular case by filing an FIR in July this year, sources said today in the context of media reports of alleged irregularities in spectrum allocation to Aircel when Maran was telecom minister between 2005-07. CBI is looking into financial transactions of Sun TV, owned by Maran family, and Malaysia-based Maxis.

It is also looking into various aspects of takeover of Aircel by Maxis group, they said. "CBI has already registered a preliminary enquiry on issues in 2G spectrum allocation between 2001-07 and is actively looking into matter," CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said when asked whether Maran could be questioned for alleged irregularities during his tenure.

According to laid down procedure, CBI registers a Preliminary Enquiry upon receiving any complaint and when anything substantial is discovered this enquiry is converted into a Regular Case. Former telecom minister Arun Shourie, who held the charge between 2003-04, has already been questioned by the CBI on February 25 in detail about the allocation of telecom airwaves during his tenure but the agency "so far" has not found anything against him, they said.

The agency has registered a preliminary enquiry against "unknown persons" on Supreme Court's directive to detect any alleged anomaly in 'first-come-first-served' of Cabinet during spectrum allocation between 2001-07.