Dayanidhi Maran, former Union Minister and current DMK MP, has issued a legal notice to his elder brother Kalanithi Maran, highlighting an internal feud within the family that owns Sun TV Network Limited, one of India’s largest media companies.
The notice, dated June 10, 2025, accuses Kalanithi Maran — Chairman of Sun TV and a billionaire media baron — of engaging in alleged fraudulent activities, including financial misconduct and money laundering. It calls for the reinstatement of the company’s shareholding structure to its original format from 2003, invoking the legacy of their father, the late Murasoli Maran, and MK Dayalu, the spouse of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
The legal communication has been addressed not just to Kalanithi, but also to seven others including his wife, Kaveri Maran.
According to Moneycontrol, the document claims that during a period when the Maran patriarch was critically ill in 2003, Kalanithi and Kaveri allegedly devised a plan — with the involvement of others — to secure control of the company. It alleges that on September 15, 2003, Kalanithi illegally allocated 12 lakh shares to himself at a face value of ₹10 each, despite the market value being estimated between ₹2,500–₹3,000 per share at the time. This move, the notice says, gave him a controlling stake in Sun TV while significantly diluting the shares of the original family members.
At the time of the alleged transaction, the company was not in need of capital, raising further questions about the intent behind the allotment. According to the notice, prior to this move, Kalanithi held no shares in the company, but this transaction elevated his ownership dramatically, sidelining the original promoters.
Currently, Kalanithi Maran owns 75% of the listed Sun TV Network and is valued at $2.9 billion. The notice accuses him of benefiting from dividends worth ₹5,926 crore in 2023 and ₹455 crore in 2024 alone.
Dayanidhi Maran now seeks government intervention and has stated his intent to approach the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), claiming the actions in question violate both corporate and criminal laws. He alleges that the difference between the ₹1.2 crore paid for the 12 lakh shares and their actual estimated worth of ₹3,500 crore constitutes criminal proceeds, and further accuses all respondents of laundering this money.
The notice also revisits a past dispute between the Marans and the Karunanidhi family, citing that MK Dayalu’s shares were undervalued and bought out for ₹100 crore despite a significantly higher post-IPO valuation of the company.
It also raises concerns about misleading claims in the company’s 2006 Red Herring Prospectus (RHP), specifically regarding a supposed ₹10.64 crore dividend payment to Mallika Maran — a claim the notice disputes.
In addition, the notice claims the allegedly ill-gotten wealth was used to acquire major assets and companies under the Sun Group umbrella, including Sun Direct TV, Kal Airways, Kal Publications, South Asian FM, Sun Pictures, and even sports franchises like Sunrisers Hyderabad and teams in South Africa and the UK.
The legal demand is for Kalanithi to restore the shareholding to its 2003 structure and return all profits, dividends, assets, and other financial gains accrued since then to the rightful heirs of Murasoli Maran and MK Dayalu.
The notice warns of civil, criminal, and regulatory consequences if these conditions are not met. It also references an earlier legal notice sent in October 2024, which received only a vague reply. Following that, Kalanithi allegedly made a ₹500 crore settlement payment to another sibling, Anbukarasi.
While Moneycontrol has yet to verify whether Kalanithi has formally responded to the latest notice, sources close to the matter suggest this is a private family issue that may not affect Sun TV’s operational affairs.
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