The long arm of the law caught up with Satyam founder B Ramalinga Raju and his associates six years after the country’s biggest corporate fraud estimated at Rs.14,000 crore came to light. However, it is disappointing that the accused got away with a lighter sentence considering the scale of the crime.
Besides, embezzling funds the Satyam Czar was also accused of inflating revenue, faking fixed deposits, fudging accounts and fabricating invoices. Though the verdict took a long time in coming it should sent out a strong message that cheating seldom pays.
One hopes that the seven years rigorous imprisonment and the whopping fine slapped on the accused proves to be a deterrent to other fledgling entrepreneurs wishing to adopt murkier ways to success.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
