Arrest warrant issued for Malaysian billionaire by Indian court

T Ananda Krishnan, who controls Astro All Asia Networks, is wanted over alleged corruption along with the company's deputy chairman, Ralph Marshall.

Ananda T Krishnan is accused of corruption over a phone licence deal in India along with his company's deputy chairman Ralph Marshall. Scott Olson / Getty

An Indian court issued arrest warrant for the Malaysian billionaire T Ananda Krishnan , who controls Astro All Asia Networks, in connection with an investigation into alleged phone-license corruption.

The company’s the deputy chairman, Ralph Marshall, has also had an arrest warrent issued against him.

A court in New Delhi said on Saturday it will split the matters into separate cases for allegations against Mr Krishnan and Mr Marshall and those against the former telecommunications minister Dayanidhi Maran.

The central bureau of investigation (CBI), which sought the warrants, wants Mr Krishnan and Mr Marshall to face court proceedings following allegations that Mr Maran improperly favoured an operator. Malaysia refused to cooperate with India’s efforts to question the men, the court said.

The court will conduct a hearing into the case against Mr Maran on October 18. Investigators told the court they were seeking arrest warrants as the men could not be served summons issued by the court.

“Serious allegations have been levelled against the two accused … both of whom are Malaysian nationals,” the judge said in the order. “They could not be served with the summons through the normal course” because “Malaysian authorities have categorically declined to effect the service. The only way left is to approach the Interpol, and for that issue of warrants is necessary”.

The CBI in 2011 told the Supreme Court that it was investigating allegations that Mr Maran delayed granting a licence to Aircel Cellular and forced its founder, Chinnakannan Sivasankaran, to sell his controlling stake to Maxis. Mr Maran, who served as the telecommunications minister in the prime minister Manmohan Singh’s cabinet between 2004 and 2007, resigned as the textiles minister in July 2011.

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