Money laundering case: Mahindra Satyam gets notice

The Adjudicating Authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has issued notices to Satyam Computer Services Ltd (Mahindra Satyam) to appear before it in connection with an alleged money-laundering case involving its previous management.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 18 issued a provisional attachment order of the company’s fixed deposits (FDs) worth Rs 822 crore in a money laundering case related to the previous management.

Based on a complaint filed by the ED, the authority has asked the company to provide evidence and information related to the FDs attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the notice said.

“You are directed to appear before the Adjudicating Authority, Prevention of Money Laundering Act in person or through advocate/ authorised representative, duly instructed on December 10, 2012, at 11.00 am, failing which the complaint shall be heard and decided in your absence,” the notice said.

When contacted, a Mahindra Satyam spokesperson refused to comment.

Vineet Nayyar, Chairman, MSat, had earlier said the company is going to challenge the ED’s order as the deposits rightfully belonged to the company.

“We are going to challenge it because we never had access to that money. That money (which former chairman of SCSL B. Ramalinga Raju claims to have brought in) had already been spent when we took over.

“In fact, the situation was so bad that when the Government directors were appointed they had to borrow Rs 450 crore to pay salaries in the US.

“The money, which was never available to us, cannot be seen as debt on us,” Nayyar had said in a press conference after announcing Q2 results here last month.