Satyam scam: Accused want framing of charges put off

HYDERABAD: Alleging that the CBI probe was still incomplete, B Ramalinga Raju, the former Satyam Chairman and the prime accused in the estimated Rs 14,000 crore accounting scam, on Tuesday moved the local court seeking postponement of framing of charges in the case.

Umamaheshwar Rao, Raju's counsel, submitted before the XXI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACCM) Court that no final report had been filed by CBI, probing the scam which came to light in January 2009, so far.

"CBI's investigation is still in progress and they are telling they may file a fourth chargesheet. The trial should not commence until the final report is filed by the CBI," he contended.

The other defence counsels also filed an application seeking postponement on hearing of charges against the accused on similar grounds.

However, CBI Special Public Prosecutor K Surender strongly opposed the application, saying the court had already rejected a similar plea earlier.

"The application is aimed at further delaying the proceedings in the case. The CBI investigation is still on, but that should not come in the way of framing of charges against the accused," the counsel for the Central agency asserted.

Earlier, arguing the CBI's allegations on evasion of taxes by the Satyam accused, Rao alleged the agency's Investigation Officer had acted as an assessing official and levelled charges against his client only for the purpose of filing the third chargesheet.

After completion of the arguments, Magistrate B V L N Chakravarti posted the matter to September 24.

The CBI, last week, completed its arguments on the charges to be framed against 10 accused in the corporate fraud case.