Political vendetta should be kept out – SC halts Maran’s arrest, issues notice to CBI

The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Dayanidhi Maran’s appeal against the Madras High Court judgement cancelling his anticipatory bail..Senior Advocate Shyam Divan appeared for Maran, while Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi represented CBI..A three judge Bench presided by Justice TS Thakur issued notice in the case while imploring the government to give a reason for arresting a person for misusing a telephone line..Shyam Divan appearing for Maran submitted that Maran had availed the ISBN DRA facility which gives a subscriber “200 or 300 lines in one number”. He accepted that the bill amount for video conferencing facility availed by him during his tenure as a minister had come to 94 lakhs, but claimed that he was entitled to the same..AG Rohatgi submitted that the case made out was not that simple. He argued that the 300 lines were not regular telephone lines, but lines used to transact huge packets of data and that it was used by SUN TV, a media empire owned by Maran’s family. Rohatgi submitted,.“He told BSNL people to install this facility in his house and allowed SUN TV to use it, and no bills were raised. The connection was in the name of C General Manager at the residence of Minister.”.Justice Thakur replied,.“You want to arrest him for misusing telephone line? Is there really a case for custody? Why do you want to arrest him?.We are not saying what he did was permissible in law. But why do you want him in custody is the question. Political vendetta and such things should be kept out. When you have proven the charge, file a charge sheet.”.Justice Thakur also chided the CBI for its inaction in an 8,000 crore scam in Uttar Pradesh..“Have you arrested a single person in the 8,000 crore scam in UP? No! Rupees 8000 crore down the drain and you want to arrest someone who misused telephone line for Rs. 1 crore!”.The Court then issued notice to CBI and sought its reply in two weeks. Another one week’s time was allowed to Maran for filing a rejoinder. The matter will now be taken up on September 14.