Former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran was today questioned by theCBI for over five hours on alleged irregularities in 2G spectrum allocation during his tenure.

Earlier this week, the agency had questioned his brother Kalanidhi Maran in connection with the preliminary enquiry in spectrum allocation during 2001-07 and allegations of pushing for Aircel takeover by Malaysia-based Maxis group, CBI sources said here.

During the questioning, Maran is understood to have denied all the allegations against him including his role in the Aircel takeover by Maxis, they said.

It has been alleged by former Aircel Chief C Sivasankaran that Maran as the then Telecom Minister favoured Maxis-group in the takeover of his company and in return investments were made by the company through Astro network in Sun TV owned by Maran family.

The CBI in its recent status report to the Supreme Court had said that during Maran''s tenure there was "deliberate delay" to provide letter of intent to Sivasankaran.

The agency had said after Aircel was sold to Maxis investments were made by the Malaysian firm into the family business of Marans.

Former aides Maran had reportedly told CBI that the processing of the files of Sivasankaran was delayed allegedly at the direction of the minister, agency sources claimed.

Maran was not available for comments.