A special court for CBI cases has re-commenced the trial of former Union Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his elder brother Kalanidhi Maran in the llegal telephone exchange case. R. Vasanthi, the 14th additional judge, has posted the case on August 17 for framing of charges. On Juy 25, the Madras High Court set aside the March 14 order of special judge Natarajan, discharging all the seven accused from all the charges.
The order, which was in response to an appeal by the CBI, said there was no prima facie evidence to prove the charges against them.
Petitioner’s stand
“None of the reasons given by the trial court to discharge them is sustained in law.”
“The trial court judge had totally forgotten the fact that he should only weigh the probability of the case for framing charges,” the High Court said. The CBI alleges that Mr. Dayanidhi installed a telephone exchange at his Chennai residence which was then used to benefit Mr. Kalanidhi's Sun Network.