The Central Bureau of Investigation today registered a case against disgraced Satyam founder B Ramalinga Raju and constituted a multi-disciplinary investigation team for its probe.The first information report has been lodged against Raju, former chairman of Satyam Computer Services Ltd, directors and the auditor of the firm, among others. The FIR has been filed under Section 120-B, readable with sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and 477 A(falsification of accounts) of the Indian Penal Code. The CBI has taken up investigation of the case from Andhra Pradesh CID crime branch.
To carry investigations further, a team of the Hyderabad CBI took possession of documents, statements and other evidence collected by the CID and a team of experts are studying them. The CBI will have to reportedly finish its investigation soon as the 90-day deadline for filing of a chargesheet in the case is approaching. CBI sources said that they would also soon apply for Raju’s custody to interrogate him.
Though the FIR mentions Satyam’s former directors, there are no names taken. A source said a mention of directors and auditors has been made for the sake of a comprehensive investigation. “We will investigate their culpability in the case. As the investigation progresses, we will know whether their names should be added to the FIR or not. The CID appears to have arrested most of the people involved. We have just taken over the case and pouring through the documents and evidence. Any further arrests or action would be based on how the investigation progresses,” a member of the CBI team.
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