WILL DAYANIDHI MARAN BE ARRESTED?

Rumours about Dayanidhi Maran’s arrest

There are talks all over India of an impending arrest of the Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran for involvement in 2G spectrum scam. Already the former Telecom Minister A. Raja has been arrested and is spending time in the famous Tihar jail in Delhi. The former DMK Chief Minister Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi has also been arrested and sent to Tihar jail. CBI has found out that when Dayanidhi Maran was the Telecom Minister till 2008, he deliberately delayed issue of licenses to Aircel and then forced Aircel’s owner Sivasankaran to sell his

holding to a Malaysian company. After the Malaysian company invested in Aircel, more than ten licenses were issued to Aircel all over India. Later on, the Malaysian company invested in Sun Direct To Home (DTH), owned by Kalanidhi Maran, brother of Dayanidhi Maran.

Similarity of charges

All these things look similar to the charges framed by CBI against Kanimozhi. The charge against her was that she befriended A. Raja, the Telecom Minister, got 2G spectrum licenses allotted to some people who were her and Raja’s favourites, and in return, the parties gave Rs.200 crore as bribery to Kalaignar TV, where Kanimozhi has 20% stake and Karunanidhi’s wife Dayalu Ammal 60% stake.

Other charges

There are also other accusations against Dayanidhi Maran. The most serious of them is that Dayanidhi Maran had converted a single line telephone connection to his residence provided by BSNL (the government telephone company) into a telephone exchange by connecting wires underground to his Sun TV office and had spoken 48 lakh calls at the government expense. In other words, the charge, if proved, will mean Dayanidhi Maran has swindled government money to benefit his Sun TV company, which is owned by his brother Kalanidhi Maran. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had made this charge against Dayanidhi Maran some years back but nothing could be done against him at that time as he was having lot of political influence both at the State level and at the Centre.

Even when Dayanidhi Maran was the Telecom Minister previously, he was accused of threatening Ratan Tata. At that time, Tata kept mum. His silence was taken as an approval of the charge against Dayanidhi Maran. But later on, Tata became a close friend of Karunanidhi and Maran and he lavished praise on them.

What the future beckons?

So, what will happen next? Will Dayanidhi Maran be arrested? The seriousness of the charges alone will not decide about culpability of the person. In India, political situation is also vital to make or mar the charges against a politician. In 2008, Dayanidhi Maran was strong and exercised his domination over the Central and the State governments. His grand uncle Karunanidhi offered him shelter. Jayalalithaa was a no-entity at that time. So, not even a hair of Maran’s could be plucked.

Change of political scene

But now the situation is quite different. The political scene has changed. The UPA government at the centre is facing scam after scam and losing its credibility fast. The BJP is gaining advantage because of this and

most likely to capture power at the centre in the next elections, notwithstanding its infighting. At the State level, Karnanidhi has lost power to his arch enemy Jayalalithaa and is not in a position to do anything to safeguard Maran. So, Dayanidhi’s position is very weak. He has no friends to rely upon in case he is arrested.

Caste card cannot be played

There is another unfavourable factor also for Dayanidhi Maran. When Raja was arrested, Karunanidhi played the Dalit card by accusing that Brahmins were behind the arrest of Raja, because Raja was a Dalit. Now Karunanidhi cannot say that Brahmins are behind the allegations against Dayanidhi Maran, because Dayanidhi Maran’s mother herself is a Brahmin. So, the public and the media will pose the question as to whether any mother could be against her own son. Therefore, this defence on the caste line is ruled out for Dayanidhi Maran.

Karunanidhi may not be interested in saving Maran

What else Karunanidhi will say? Actually Karunanidhi himself may be happy to see Dayanidhi Maran arrested. Dayanidhi Maran incurred the wrath and curse of Karunanidhi and his family members in 2008 and because of this he was removed from the Union Cabinet at Karunanidhi’s recommendation. Later on, a truce was made and Dayanidhi Maran was inducted as Textile Minister at the Centre. Even after the truce, the old scars have not healed on both sides. Moreover, there is a feeling that Dayanidhi Maran was behind in leaking out details about A. Raja to the media and causing the latter’s arrest. There is also a feeling that he was behind Kanimozhi’s arrest. These things have no proof, but Karunanidh’s family circles and the DMK party men believe these as true. Therefore, Karunanidhi will not come forward to strongly defend and save Dayanidhi Maran in case of a charge sheet and arrest.

Staunch follower of Periyar!

What else could be the defence of Dayanidhi Maran? One thing he can try. He can say that he is a strong follower of E V R Periyar Ramasamy and those who do not like Periyar are behind this move to put him behind the bar. This will be a good defence as there are many people, who are followers of Periyar in Tamil Nadu. He can also claim that an attack on him is an attack on Periyar himself. But whether this defence will restrain his detractors is doubtful as there are no great followers of Periyar in CBI. Times are not good for Dayanidhi Maran, DMK, Karunanidhi and his family members. Dayanidhi has to wait for better times to get out of this trouble. Only patience will help him.