Maran granted interim protection, SC tells CBI not to arrest for political vendetta

The court said the CBI had not arrested many accused in the Rs 8,000 crore National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam of Uttar Pradesh, but was so keen to arrest Maran over telephone charges of Rs 1.20 crore.

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“It is a case of telephone misuse. Why do you want to arrest him? Why do you want him in jail? We are not saying anybody should get away after a misuse, but why do you want his custody? Is there some other purpose to arrest him? CBI should not arrest people for political vendetta… he is a political opponent,” observed the bench.

An FIR against Maran was lodged in 2013 for allegedly installing 360 BSNL telephone lines at his Chennai residence, which were used commercially for his family-run Sun TV network. Maran approached the apex court after the Madras High Court on Monday cancelled his anticipatory bail, following the CBI’s plea.

“The minister did not himself lay the lines. BSNL officials should guide you (CBI). To find out how the facility was run, why have you not arrested the BSNL officer? These are aberrations which we cannot approve of. Unless there is some other purpose why you want to arrest him,” the bench told Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the CBI.

It said the CBI’s plea for arrest should not shock the conscience of the court and arrests should be made only for advancing the probe

Rohatgi said Maran’s arrest was required to unearth the conspiracy related to the case. He said a few BSNL officers had also been arrested.

The bench issued a notice to the CBI seeking its response in two weeks, and fixed the matter for further hearing on September 14.