A special CBI court in Chennai has discharged former Telecom Minister Dhayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi including other accused as well in the illegal telephone exchange case.  Former BSNL  General Manager K Brahmanathan, former Deputy General manager M P Velusamy, Dayanidhi Maran's Private Secretary Gauthaman were also let go free.

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal who argued for the Maran brothers contented that the case was foisted on them while CBI Special Judge Natarajan stated that since there were no prima facie material, they shall be discharged. The CBI had originally alleged that an illegal private telephone exchange was set up at Dhayanidhi’s residence and it was used for business transactions involving Sun Network owned by Kalanithi. CBI had also alleged that Dhayanidhi cost the exchequer a loss of Rs.1.78 crores.