Former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and four others were summoned on Saturday as accused by a special court in a Aircel-Maxis deal- related money laundering case, saying there was "enough incriminating material" to proceed against them.
Beside Maran brothers, Special CBI Judge O P Saini also summoned Kalanithi's wife Kavery Kalanithi, K Shanmugam, Managing Director of South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL), and two firms -- SAFL and Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) -- as accused for July 11.
The court also asked the ED to continue the ongoing investigation and file fresh complaints, if required.
ED has chargesheeted the six accused under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
ED had earlier alleged before the court that Dayanidhi had generated funds worth Rs 742.58 crore through illegal means and there was sufficient prima facie material to proceed against him and other accused in the case.
In August 2014, the CBI too had chargesheeted the Maran brothers, Malaysian business tycoon T Ananda Krishnan, Malaysian national Augustus Ralph Marshall and four companies -- Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd, Maxis Communication Berhad, South Asia Entertainment Holding Ltd and Astro All Asia Network PLC -- in the case.
CBI had alleged that Dayanidhi had "pressurised" and "forced" Chennai-based telecom promoter C Sivasankaran to sell his stakes in Aircel and two subsidiary companies to Malaysian firm Maxis Group in 2006.
All the accused have denied all charges levelled against them by these investigating agencies.