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Satyam boss Raju admits accounting fraud, quits
Published on Wed, Jan 07, 2009 at 11:47, Updated on Wed, Jan 07, 2009 at 19:34 in Business section
Tags: Satyam Computers, Ramalinga Raju , Bangalore
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Bangalore: Satyam Computer Services founder-chairman B Ramalinga Raju has resigned from the IT major's board after admitting a multi-crore fraud in the company’s accounts.
In a notification to the stock exchanges, the Hyderabad-based IT firm said Raju and Managing Director Rama Raju had resigned early Wednesday and that the Securities and Exchanges Board of India (SEBI) had been informed.
In the regulatory statement, Raju said that the company had fraudulently incorporated a non-existent cash component and inflated the bank balance to reflect Rs 5,040 crore (Rs 50.4 billion) as against Rs 5,361 crores (Rs 53.61 billion).
''No board member had any knowledge of the real situation. Accrued interest of Rs 376 crore in books is non-existent. About Rs 1,230 crore was arranged to Satyam, but was not reflected in the books,” he said.
CNBC-TV18 reports that the account manipulation started years ago. "It was like riding a tiger, not knowing how to get off without being eaten," Raju said in his resignation letter to the company’s board of directors, in which he listed major financial wrong-doings over the years to inflate profits.
"I sincerely apologise to all Satyamites and stakeholders, who have made Satyam a special organisation, for the current situation," said Raju. "I am now prepared to subject myself to the laws of the land and face consequences thereof."
Raju recommended DSP Merrill Lynch be entrusted the task of "quickly exploring some merger opportunities," but the investment banker informed the stock exchanges that it has terminated its engagement with Satyam.
According to Raju, Ram Mynampati will act as an interim CEO. The resignations, ahead of January 10 board meeting, pushed the company into crisis and paved the way for immediate restructuring of the board and the management.
Shares of the company plunged by over 40 per cent soon after the resignations. Satyam, considered a ripe proposition for acquisition, was pushed into crisis after Raju was forced to abandon the acquisition of Maytas Infrastructure and Maytas Properties promoted by his son.
In a regulatory filing the company said Raju would continue to be the chairman till the board is expanded. "Under the circumstances I am tendering my resignation as the chairman of Satyam and shall continue in this position only till such time the current board is expanded. My continuance is just to ensure enhancement of the board over the next several days or as early as possible," said Raju.
An account of the confession
Raju said the fraud was “marginal” when it started but then grew over the years. "What started as a marginal gap between actual operating profit and the one reflected in the books of accounts continued to grow over the years," said.
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I am not least surprised.MANIPULATION has become the main management mantra in last few years.Almost all companies in India and
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I am a Belgian artist and teacher. I have never been a complete supporter of complete supra liberalism because it
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Looks like there were too many YES men in the board. Surprised Auditors had no clue!!!
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Very sad day for all connected with Indian orporate World.
Satyam was an iconic name , and
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Mr.Ramalinga Raju is incorrect in stating that he and the directors did not gain even 1 Rupee due to this
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