NEWDELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigating the controversial Aircel-Maxis deal is likely to call the Maran brothers, Dayanidhi and Kalanidhi, within two weeks to take their statements on the basis of the Preliminary Enquiry (PE) findings that is being held in the case.Both of them will be called for their joint and individual statements since the complainant, former Aircel chief C Sivasankaran, had named both for arm-twisting and threatening him to sell his stake in Aircel to their close friend's company, Maxis. Sivasankaran had also alleged that both played an equal role and benefited immensely, because within months of the deal, Maxis invested about `750 crore in the Sun Network and its sister firm run by Kalanidhi.CBI officials said they will first call former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi and then Kalanidhi to get their versions. Based on their 'clarifications' the agency will decide whether to turn the PE into an FIR for framing criminal charges against them.So far, the agency had not obtained oral or written statements from both Dayanidhi and Kalanidhi. It is still in the process of collecting evidence. The statements of DoT officials, who served under Dayanidhi at the time the controversial deal allegedly took place, had established only one part of Sivasankaran's allegations -that the minister 'deliberately' sat on his applications for additional spectrum and licences for two years.The second and crucial part of the allegation that the agency is now focused on is the Maran brothers 'pressure' on Sivasankaran to sell Aircel to Maxis only when it had better offers from other companies. Officials said this process will take time because several key witnesses like officials of the Standard Chartered bank and others involved in the financial aspects of the deal have changed jobs or relocated.
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