Sun TV family feud: DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran sends legal notice to brother Kalanithi Maran

Sun TV family feud explained

Family feud over the thousands of crores with shares of Sun TV is again raking up. Earlier, in 2006, when DMK supremo Karunanidhi accused his grand nephews Maran brothers, of pocketing the shares of Sun TV from him at a cheap rate before the IPO. This time Maran brothers are quarrelling over Sun TV shares.

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, previous week, sent a legal notice to his brother Kalanithi, accusing him of grabbing SUN TV shares “illegally” after their father Murasoli Maran’s death in 2003. Dayanidhi Maran blamed his elder brother, Kalanithi Maran, chairman of the Chennai-based media conglomerate for “fraudulent practices,” including “cheating and money laundering.”

Dayanidhi demands the restoration of the company’s shareholding to the original structure established in 2003, invoking the legacy of their late father, SN Maran (Murasoli Maran) and MK Dayalu, wife of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. Many feel, Dayanidhi is having backing of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin in the family battle.

The notice dated 10 June 2025 has been served to Kalanithi Maran and seven other respondents, including his wife, Kaveri Maran. “In order to take over the entire company and its assets for the personal benefit of No.1 & 2 of you (Kalanithi and Kaveri Maran), No.1 of you orchestrated a deceptive and devious plan in active conspiracy with No.2 to 8 of you. As part of executing your premeditated fraudulent scheme, taking advantage of the family’s situation, especially when my client’s father’s health was critically ill, that he could pass away at any moment and the entire family was concerned about his deteriorating health, No.1 of you and No.2 of you commenced your first illegal activity in September 2003,” the notice begins, referring to the ill health and subsequent death of their father, Murasoli Maran, who is the nephew of Mr Karunanidhi.

The notice alleges that after their father died in 2003, shares were transferred to their mother, Mallika Maran, without proper legal documents like a death certificate or legal heir certificate, which were issued only days or months later. This transfer was done to allegedly help move shares later to Kalanithi Maran.

The notice alleges that Kalanithi allotted 12 lakh equity shares to himself at Rs.10 each on 15 September 2003, an “illegal act of criminal breach of trust and cheating.” This was when the value of shares then was between Rs.2,500 and Rs.3,000 as per the notice.

“In other words, No.1 of you (Kalanithi) allotted 60% of the shares of M/s.SUN TV Private Limited, without any consultation or approval from the existing majority/ promoter original shareholders at face value of Rs.10/- each,” the notice alleges. At that time, the company was financially strong and did not need to raise money, so there was no reason to issue these shares, the notice alleges. Before this, Kalanithi did not own any shares, but after this move, he became the majority owner, reducing the original families’ shares from 50% each to just 20%, per the notice.

Kalanithi Maran currently owns 75 percent of the listed Sun TV network and is one of India’s richest businessmen, with a net worth of $2.9 billion. The notice says that Dayanidhi Maran will seek a government investigation by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), as these actions are serious crimes under company and criminal laws, including money laundering.

“The difference amount between the alleged payment of Rs.1.2 crores towards allotment of 12,00,000 equity shares and the actual approximate value of 12,00,000 equity shares to the tune of Rs.3500 crores at the relevant time is nothing but proceeds of crime and all of you are possessing the said differential amount of Rs.3,498.8 crores projecting the same as untainted one and hence all of you are continuously committing an act of Money laundering,” the notice alleges, adding that Kalanithi has also derived benefits by way of dividends to the tune of Rs.5,926 crore till 2023 and Rs.455 crore in 2024 alone.

The notice also rakes up a previous dispute between the Karunanidhi and Maran families, where the members of the former accused the latter of short-changing them by buying out M K Dayalu’s stake in Sun TV for 100 crores, when the company was valued much higher after its IPO. In 2006, Karunanidhi wrote an article, accusing his grand nephews Maran brothers, of fooling him and pocketing the shares of Sun TV at a cheap price, before the IPO.[1]

Reference:

[1] Sun TV Family Feud: DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran sends legal notice to billionaire brother Kalanithi Maran – Jun 20, 2024, Money Control

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