CBI will soon approach Maxis, a Malaysian-based firm, for cooperation in its probe on alleged forced sale of shares from Aircel to it at the behest of the then telecom Minister Dyanidhi Maran. 

Sources in the agency said that Maxis will be asked to join the probe and respond to allegations made by former Aircel Chief C Sivasankaran. 

Sivasankaran, who heads USD three billion conglomerate, Siva Group, with operations in realty, telecom, shipping and other areas, had alleged in his statement to the CBI that he was forced by Maran to sell his stake in Aircel to Maxis. 

Sivasankaran had alleged that his applications for licences were rejected when Maran was the telecom minister in 2006, forcing him to sell his company to Maxis, whose owner is considered to be close to Maran and his brother Kalanidhi, who owns Sun TV. 

Maran is alleged to have granted 14 licences to Dishnet Wireless (Aircel) during his tenure as the telecom minister. 

CBI is looking into financial transactions of Sun TV and Maxis. Besides, it is also looking into various aspects of takeover of Aircel by Maxis group, the sources said.