NEW DELHI: Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi on Friday shot down the home ministry's decision to deny security clearance to Sun TV, saying mere filing of cases against the owners can't be a ground to deny the right to run a channel.

The MHA's decision to deny security clearance to Sun TV was based on three cases against the owners, the Maran brothers " the 2G scam-related Aircel-Maxis case, the alleged money laundering case against Sun TV and the alleged 300-line exchange at Marans' home when Dayanidhi was Union communications minister. The AG on Thursday met top officials from the MHA and information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry to discuss denial of security clearance to Sun TV, which would have put a question mark on the transmission of 33 channels with millions of viewers.