Image credit : Illustrative Image

Chennai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has opposed the discharge petitions moved by former Union Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and brother Kalanidhi Maran in the illegal telephone exchange case, causing the exchequer a loss of more than 1.7 crore

During the hearing of the petition of Maran brothers on Friday before Additional Judge for CBI cases S Natarajan, the investigation agency pleaded strongly for dismissing the plea. It contended that the charge-sheet had already been filed after a thorough probe.

The CBI said charges framed against the accused were supported by material and documentary evidence. It also filed additional affidavits to support its claim.

Counsel for the Maran brothers sought time to reply to the additional affidavits and the court posted the case to November 21.

The CBI case was registered on July 23, 2013, on the basis of allegations that the brothers set up the exchange, used for transferring high-resolution data, but did not produce bills between 2004 and 2007, resulting huge loss to the exchequer.