CBI may quiz Maran soon: Report

However, it is still not clear as to when Maran will be quizzed by the central probe agency.

As per reports, the CBI is likely to question Dayanidhi and his brother Kalanithi Maran , Maxis Communication promoter T Ananda Krishnan and the Reddys of Apollo Hospitals in connection with the deal.

As of now, the CBI officials are in process of verifying Sivasankaran`s statement, which alleges he was coerced by Maran to sell his stake to Maxis. The CBI is also questioning people who were then officials in the department of telecom (DoT), along with 10 other witnesses to the Aircel-Maxis deal, who were cited by Sivasankaran.

The status report of the CBI in the 2G spectrum case submitted to the apex court, yesterday, pointed the finger at Maran for the delaying of telecom company Aircel`s application for 2G licence and forcing it to be sold to Malaysian company Maxis during his tenure as communications minister in 2006.

While the CBI has recorded the statement of former DoT secratary Nripendra Misra, other senior officials likely to be called for questioning by the CBI include J S Sarma and D S Mathur. Both Sarma (now chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) and Mathur were DoT secretaries during Maran`s tenure as telecom minister. CBI officials said the statements of junior DoT officials were also being recorded. Sivasankaran had given his statement to the CBI on June 6.

The next charge sheet in the 2G spectrum case is now expected to be filed by August 31. The CBI had submitted a 71-page status report on its probe in the 2G spectrum scam to the Supreme Court yesterday.

Meanwhile with Maran’s exit, back-room lobbying has begun in the DMK with several senior MPs eyeing the berths vacated by him and A Raja. Reports claim that the DMK silently is hoping to be compensated for the two cabinet posts, but DMK chief M Karunanidhi is not interested in making the first move or opening channels of communication with the Congress leadership.