2 weeks ago
Maran Telephone Exchange Case: Gurumurthy's Long Battle Reaches Supreme Court
A long time ago, a very important man named Dayanidhi Maran was in charge of telephones in India.
Some people said he used hundreds of special phone lines that belonged to the government for his family's TV company.
A journalist named S. Gurumurthy wrote about it in the newspaper and spent many years asking the police to investigate.
The police finally looked into it, but the case moved very slowly.
The highest court in India, the Supreme Court, even talked about stopping the case because the money involved seemed small.
But Gurumurthy said the real value of all those phone lines was much, much bigger.
The case went back and forth between courts for many years.
Now, in 2026, the case is still going on in the Supreme Court.
Some judges and police have different opinions about what happened.
The story teaches us that powerful people should be held responsible just like everyone else.
In 2011, S. Gurumurthy exposed an alleged illegal telephone exchange involving former Union Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran in The New Indian Express.
The allegations involved approximately 764 high-speed BSNL lines at Maran's Chennai residences, linked through about 3.4 km of underground cable to Sun TV, controlled by his brother Kalanithi Maran.
The CBI had examined the issue as early as September 2007, but the case was only registered after Gurumurthy moved the Supreme Court in 2013.
In August 2015, the Supreme Court stayed Maran's arrest, treating the loss as about ₹1.2 crore, while Gurumurthy argued losses could exceed ₹200 crore and the CBI later cited an alleged loss of around ₹440 crore.
In 2026, the CBI is challenging a Madras High Court order in the Supreme Court that allowed Maran to summon the Union Telecom Secretary as a witness.
- Who
- Journalist S. Gurumurthy, former Union Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), the Supreme Court and the Madras High Court
- What
- Allegations that hundreds of high-speed BSNL telephone lines were illegally installed at Maran's Chennai residences and connected to Sun TV, avoiding normal billing and monitoring
- Where
- Chennai, India; proceedings in the Supreme Court and the Madras High Court
- When
- The lines were allegedly installed during Maran's 2004-2007 tenure; the exposé ran in 2011, and the case continues in 2026
- Why
- Gurumurthy alleges Maran used his ministerial position to create a concealed, unbilled telecom network benefiting Sun TV and causing large losses to BSNL
Maran's Defense
Gurumurthy and Investigative Position
Political Vendetta
Maran's Defense
Maran claimed the investigation was politically motivated and the CBI was trying to 'please somebody' after the Modi government assumed power.
Gurumurthy and Investigative Position
Gurumurthy argued the CBI had examined the issue in 2007 and the media exposé came in 2011, before the NDA came to power, so the case originated under the UPA itself.
Extent of Loss
Maran's Defense
Courts reportedly treated the loss as approximately ₹1.2 crore, which Maran was reportedly ready to pay to BSNL.
Gurumurthy and Investigative Position
Gurumurthy argued the loss was far greater, with rental on 764 lines alone potentially exceeding ₹200 crore, and the CBI case was later reported as involving an alleged loss of around ₹440 crore.
Nature of Offence
Maran's Defense
The Supreme Court reportedly observed this was 'not that kind of corruption which requires arrest' and amounted to misuse of power.
Gurumurthy and Investigative Position
Gurumurthy argued it was a 'deeper and highly meditated conspiracy and fraud' and a 'fraud on his constitutional oath' by a minister who should face stricter accountability.
Key facts
- Accused
- Dayanidhi Maran, former Union Telecom Minister
- Alleged Lines
- Approximately 764 high-speed BSNL lines (323 at Boat Club Road; 400+ at Gopalapuram)
- Alleged Beneficiary
- Sun TV, controlled by Maran's brother Kalanithi Maran
- Connection
- Approximately 3.4 km of underground optical fibre cable
- Alleged Loss
- Reported at around ₹440 crore by the CBI; Gurumurthy argued rental alone could exceed ₹200 crore; ₹1.2 crore treated in proceedings
- Exposé
- June 2011, The New Indian Express
- Key Dates
- Lines installed 2004-2007; CBI inquiry September 2007; SC petition 2013; arrest stayed August 2015; 2018 discharge overturned by Madras HC
- Current Status (2026)
- CBI challenging Madras HC order allowing Maran to summon Union Telecom Secretary as witness
Quotes
Supreme Court Judge
Judge presiding over the case in the Supreme Court of India
“"Your assessment of the loss is ₹1.2 crore. Maran is ready to pay that money to BSNL. We are not saying that there is no misuse of power."”
opindia.com
“"Will the CBI tell the court that the loss is minimum ₹200 crore, not counting the immeasurable user charges?"”
opindia.com










