SUN TV Family Feud Saga
The corridors of one of India’s most powerful media and political empires are echoing with allegations of betrayal and fraud. In a dramatic twist, DMK MP and former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran has accused his elder brother, media tycoon Kalanithi Maran, of orchestrating a series of fraudulent corporate manoeuvres to seize control of Sun TV Network Limited, valued at over ₹3,500 crore.
The explosive 25-page legal notice, dated June 10 and sent through Chennai-based advocate K. Suresh, reveals a detailed timeline of alleged financial, corporate, and inheritance-related irregularities dating back to 2003—a period when the Maran patriarch Murasoli Maran was terminally ill.
🧾 Allegations of Deception and Manipulation
At the heart of the dispute is the alleged undervalued allotment of 12 lakh shares to Kalanithi Maran at just ₹10 per share, when the market value was estimated to be between ₹2,500–₹3,000.
Dayanidhi claims:
- Promoter family stakes were secretly diluted from 50% each (Maran and Karunanidhi families) to just 20% each, giving Kalanithi a 60% controlling interest.
- Shares were transferred from their deceased father to their mother without succession documentation, raising red flags under inheritance law.
- Other family-owned firms like Kungumam Publications and Kal Investments were similarly bypassed in due process.
These actions, he alleges, breached shareholder rights, bypassed board approvals, and violated provisions under the Companies Act, SEBI Act, and Indian Penal Code.
💰 Sun TV IPO Discrepancies and Alleged Money Laundering
The notice further scrutinises SUN TV’s 2006 IPO, alleging that:
- A ₹10.64 crore dividend, shown as paid to their mother, Mallika Maran, was never received.
- Kalanithi used proceeds from these transactions to invest in Sun Direct, Kal Airways, Sun Pictures, and the IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Dayanidhi claims these funds constitute “proceeds of crime” under the PMLA, estimating over ₹5,926 crore in dividends received by Kalanithi from 2003–2023, with an additional ₹455 crore in 2024.
⚖️ Regulatory Fallout and Political Shockwaves
Dayanidhi Maran has threatened to:
- File official complaints with SEBI, SFIO, NSE, BSE, and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
- Seek cancellation of licenses held by Sun Group entities across media, aviation, and entertainment
- Pursue criminal charges under PMLA and Companies Act violations
This legal battle has already impacted the stock market—Sun TV shares fell over 4% following news of the dispute.
🧨 Behind the Feud: Legacy, Power, and the DMK Connection
This isn’t just a family feud—it’s a potential political earthquake. The Marans are nephews of former Tamil Nadu CM M. Karunanidhi, and the fallout could impact not just Tamil Nadu politics, but India’s media ownership landscape.
Once a tight-knit powerhouse, the family’s public unravelling is drawing comparisons to corporate succession dramas like Succession and Game of Thrones—except this one is very real and very public.
Sun TV family feud, Dayanidhi Maran Kalanithi Maran dispute, Sun TV fraud, Sun Network shares, Maran brothers legal battle, Tamil Nadu media politics
Recent Posts
- Iranian Missile Hits Israeli Hospital in Deadliest Day Yet as Israel-Iran Conflict Enters Day 7
- Inside India’s Largest Film Set: 38,000 Sq Ft of Horror, Grandeur & Prabhas Power in ‘The RajaSaab’
- Trent Ltd Stock Review: After a Wild Ride to ₹8,345, Is the Tata Retail Giant Ready to Rebound?
Discover more from News 24 Media
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
