Never forced anyone to sell Aircel stake: Dayanidhi Maran
June 6th, 2011 - 7:55 pm ICT by IANSChennai, June 6 (IANS) Under attack for his alleged role in the 2G spectrum scam, union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran Monday said he never forced Aircel founder C. Sivasankaran to sell stakes in his company.
“No one can force anyone to sell the business. Moreover, Aircel ventures have been there from time to time in the media, and I have paper cuttings which state the same,” he told reporters here.
“Although most of the channels are trying to make a story today, saying that I forced, arm-twisted and strangulated to sell a business to the other person… let me tell you that Mr. Sivasankaran is not a millionaire, but a multi-millionaire.
“The paper cutting clearly proves that this particular company was parading itself much before I became a telecom minister. I have never had to force anyone to sell the business,” he said.
The DMK MP is facing charges of bending rules for granting 14 licences to Dishnet Wireless (now Aircel) during his tenure as telecom minister between 2004 and 2007.
According to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sources, Sivasankaran Monday told the agency that he was forced to sell stake in his company after his applications for telecom licence were rejected by Dayanidhi Maran in 2006.
He said he was forced to sell his stake in Aircel to Malaysia’s Maxis Communications, whose owner is reported to be close to Maran and his brother Kalanithi, who owns Sun TV, added the source.
- Maran denies forcing Sivasankaran to exit Aircel (Lead) - Jun 06, 2011
- Was forced to sell Aircel stake, Sivasankaran tells CBI - Jun 06, 2011
- CBI to question Dayanidhi Maran soon - Jul 07, 2011
- Sun TV shares slide on telecom tangle - Oct 10, 2011
- I will not let down Maran brothers: Karunanidhi - Oct 11, 2011
- CBI raids Marans, DMK silent - Oct 10, 2011
- Sun TV shares down after Maran quits as textiles minister - Jul 07, 2011
- Will file complaint on Aircel-Marxis deal, Swamy tells court - May 26, 2012
- Karunanidhi silent as Marans raided in 2G case (Roundup) - Oct 10, 2011
- JPC meets CBI chief, may call Maran on 2G - Jun 07, 2011
- Decision on booking Maran by Sep 30, CBI tells apex court - Sep 28, 2011
- CBI probe against Maran in 2G not honest: Petitioner - Sep 06, 2011
- Triggering speculation, Maran meets PM - Jun 30, 2011
- Maran quits as minister after 2G scam involvement (Second Lead) - Jul 07, 2011
- 2G scam: CBI points finger at Maran, seeks more time (Second Lead) - Jul 07, 2011
Tags: aircel, brother, cbi sources, central bureau of investigation, chennai, dayanidhi maran, dishnet, dmk, maxis, millionaire, mp, paper cutting, paper cuttings, spectrum, stake, sun tv, telecom, tenure, textiles