The fight over Sun TV Network’s ₹24000 crore empire has pushed to the spotlight a bitter family feud that is now threatening the reputation of Tamil Nadu’s most prominent political party— DMK. . At the heart of the controversy are brothers Kalanithi and Dayanidhi Maran, heirs to the Sun TV dynasty built by their late father, DMK stalwart Murasoli Maran. Once heirs apparent, now locked in a high stakes battle over control of the empire.
The conflict started with Dayanidhi, DMK MP and former Union Minister, accusing his elder brother Kalanithi, Sun TV chairman who holds a 75% stake in Sun TV, of unlawfully alloting 12 lakh equity shares to himself in September 2003, shortly after their father fell ill. Dayanidhi claims these shares, valued at ₹3500 crore at the time, were transferred without board approval or proper valuation. Dayanidhi said his brother is guilty of exploiting the family’s emotional turmoil following their father’s death that year. The legal notice also names Kalanithi’s wife, Kavery, and many associates as kalanithi’s accomplices and perpetrators of financial misconduct, including money laundering.
Dayanidhi holds no direct stake in Sun TV. He has demanded that the shareholding be restored to its pre 2003 structure with Murasoli’s wife, Mallika, and M.K. Karunanidhi’s wife, M.K. Dayalu, were the shareholders. He has threatened of pushing the matter to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office and invoking the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Sun TV has rubbished the claims calling them ‘misleading and defamatory’, insisting the dispute, tied to its days as a private company, won’t dent its operations. The market, however, begs to differ with shares dipping over 5% this month. The DMK party is gearing for the 2026 elections and has predictively chosen to stay out of the feud.
