Former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanidhi Maran appeared before the Special CBI Court in Chennai yesterday in connection with the illegal telephone exchange case. It was alleged that when Mr Dayanidhi Maran was the telecom minister during 2004 to 2007, an illegal telephone exchange was being operated at his Chennai Gopalapuram and Boat Club residences for use in the private television network run by his brother, causing a loss of 1.78 crore rupees to the public sector telecom operator BSNL. <br/><br/>However, Maran brothers maintain that it was a single connection with the permitted extensions for a Union Minister. The CBI special court judge S.Bhaskaran directed those named in the case to appear before the court on 2nd April to receive the copies of the charge sheet. However, as the copies were not ready, the case was adjourned to May 22nd.