Former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran on Thursday alleged that the CBI was harassing the three people who were arrested in connection with the alleged allotment of more than 300 high-speed telephone lines to his residence in Chennai which were allegedly extended to his brother’s TV channel, Sun TV.
He said the CBI had forced the trio to give out false statements stating there was a link between Sun TV and his residence.
“But recently, they have arrested my personnel who was with me when I was working as the minister of communication and two other people from Sun TV network. The irony of the whole issue is that they have been ill-treated, fourth degree treatment was used by the CBI on them, forcing them to give a false statement stating that there was a link between Sun TV and my residence, which is absolutely a lie,” Maran added.
The former minister said the three were beaten up when they refused to give a false statement.
“When they refused to give such a statement they were harassed, beaten up and all kind of third degree statement was used. In fact, they were promised that if they give a statement of such a way that would favour the CBI then they will be let go,” he added.
“I am planning to write to CBI director that such inhuman activities should not be practiced by CBI in a civilized country. We trust CBI as a fact finding machine and not a fixing bureau. Since they lack evidence after eight years of enquiry, now they just want to shift their responsibility from their tables to the courts,” Maran asserted.
“If this could happen to me, a two time Member of Parliament, I wonder if a common man can get justice from CBI who expects the CBI to be right and conduct the investigation right. In fact, I was also expecting that the CBI will conduct a fact right and bring out the truth,” he said.
Maran further said that the personnel co-operated with the CBI each time they were called.
“It is unfortunate that they are trying to fix me and I have no other option but to fight them in court,” he added.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had on Wednesday night arrested three persons, including V. Gowthaman, the then Additional Private Secretary to Dayanidhi Maran in connection with alleged allotment of more than 300 high-speed telephone lines.
These high speed lines were allegedly allotted to the then Telecom Minister’s residence which were further extended to his brother’s TV channel, Sun TV.
Besides Gowthaman, CBI has also arrested the Chief Technical Officer S. Kannan and electrician L.S. Ravi of Sun TV network.
CBI had named Dayanidhi Maran and BSNL officials, including the then Chief General Manager, in the FIR in October 2013.
(ANI)