AP government tosses Satyam probe to CBI

16 February 2009

The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to hand over the investigation of the Satyam Computer Services scandal to the Central Bureau of Investigation even as a 12-member team of the Serious Frauds Investigation Office (SFIO) has prepared an interim report on the Rs7,136 crore accounting fraud by promoters of the IT major.

''The interim report, based on the outcome of SFIO teams' questioning of five key accused in the fraud now under judicial custody in Chanchalguda central prison in Hyderabad, is being sent to the union ministry of corporate affairs,'' said a person assisting the probe.

The Andhra Pradesh government has issued an order handing over the probe into the Satyam Computer fraud to the CBI, according to state home minister K. Jana Reddy.

He said the govern mt had issued an order on 13 February handing over the probe to CBI.

Sources in the department of personnel, under which the CBI functions, said it has received a notification under section 6 of Delhi Police Special Act.

The department is likely to issue a notification to the CBI tomorrow directing it to probe the country's biggest ever corporate scam, currently being investigated by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).