Charges framed against Maran brothers in phone exchange case

A special CBI court has ordered former communications minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran, and five others to appear before it in connection with an alleged illegal telephone exchange case. The court had last week framed charges against the seven accused. Judge R Vasanthi of the Additional Sessions Court for the CBI read out the charges against each accused, who were present in the court, individually. The charges were framed under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 409 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating), and the Prevention of Corruption Act. All accused individually denied the charges against them. The judge then posted the case to February 19, when the trial would begin with the examination of the witnesses. On March 14 last year, the CBI court had discharged all accused, holding there was no prima facie case against them.