The security clearances for both the proposals for expansion of Sun TV and the group’s FM channels will get further jeopardised with the filing of a charge-sheet against the Maran brothers Kalanithi and Dayanidhi, Kalanithi Maran’s wife Kavery Maran and three others including two companies.

A spokesperson for the group told Indiantelevision.com from Chennai that the company was examining legal recourse to ensue that the expansion plans are not jeopardised as they are linked to freedom of the press and have nothing to do with the alleged money-laundering cases.

This follows the corruption case lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Aircel-Maxis deal. The complaint alleged that Rs 742.58 crore was paid for former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran by two Mauritius-based companies through Sun Direct TV Pvt. Ltd and South Asia FM Ltd.

Special Judge O P Saini here has fixed 18 January as the date for consideration and taking cognisance of the complaint, asked the ED to place all relevant documents before it.

The two companies are owned and controlled by Kalanidhi, and the money was utilised by these companies for their business, the complaint alleged.

SAFL, SDTPL and SAFL managing director K Shanmugam has also been named as accused in the complaint.

Dayanidhi allegedly obtained the proceeds of crime (Rs 742.58 crore) by camouflaging it as capital contribution in SDTPL and SAFL and thus committed the offence of money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the complaint said.

SDTPL is owned and controlled by Kalanithi and Kaveri, being the chairman and the director respectively. It received the proceeds of crime, Rs 549.03 crore for Dayanidhi in the guise of foreign investment, which was consumed by it in its business, the complaint said.

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