Discussion on Satyam issue in LS deferred to Feb 25

NEW DELHI: Discussion on the Rs 7,800 crore Satyam fraud in the Lok Sabha has been deferred yet again and is now expected to take place on Wednesday.

The short duration discussion under Rule 193 on the situation arising out of the alleged mismanagement of the affairs of the Satyam Computer Services will now be taken up on February 25, the Lok Sabha bulletin said.

Initially, the discussion was scheduled to be held on February 13, but was deferred following a request from Leader of the Opposition L K Advani.

After ascertaining the views of leaders of various political parties, the discussion was listed for today but now has been further deferred to February 25.

The current session of Parliament, the last of the 14th Lok Sabha, will continue till February 26.

The case had led to bitter exchanges between Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and his predecessor Chandrababu Naidu, with each accusing the other of aiding company founder Ramalinga Raju.

Raju on January 7 had disclosed what has now become the country's biggest financial fraud involving Rs 7,800 crore. In a letter to Satyam's board, he had said that profits were falsified for years and that fictitious assets were created.

Several government agencies including the Serious Fraud Investigation Office, market regulator SEBI, and the Andhra Pradesh police CB-CID are investigating the case.