Satyam scam: Ex-employee denies role

A day after two former Satyam Computer auditors denied their role in the multi-crore accounting scam at the IT firm, another accused on Friday told a court that CBI had no substantial evidence against him. D Venkatapathi Raju, a former Satyam employee, argued that he cannot be clubbed as a co-conspirator in the corporate fraud which came to light in January last year.

The accused, through his counsel, told the XXI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, trying the case, that there was no evidence with CBI to prove the conspiracy charge against him.

"There is no evidence to substantiate the conspiracy charge against my client. He cannot be slapped with the criminal conspiracy charge. There is nothing in the three chargesheets to suggest that my client conspired with other accused," C V S S Srimanth Kumar, the counsel for Venkatapathi Raju, contended.

Arguing against the CBI's allegations as part of hearing of arguments prior to framing of charges in the case, Kumar strongly refuted the Central agency's claim that "out of turn" allotment of shares in the IT firm were made to his client.

"My client was employed as only a Senior Manager (Finance) and not as a Vice-President as claimed by the CBI. He was given shares in line with other employees," he said.