Satyam demands World Bank apology

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: Two days after a representative of the World Bank came out in the open and accused Satyam of indulging in malpractices like bribery and hacking of sensitive data, the software firm has asked the World Bank to tender an apology for “certain inappropriate statements made by World Bank representatives,” against it.

“Satyam formally requested today that the World Bank immediately withdraw those statements and issue a new statement apologising to Satyam for the harm done to the company due to the Bank’s actions, and that it provide Satyam with a full explanation of the circumstances related to the Bank’s inappropriate statements,” a company statement said. When contacted by FE, Satyam’s spokesperson said that Satyam finds all charges made by World Bank baseless. Moreover, Satyam has ‘advised’ the Bank that the company would “evaluate all possible options” in view of the Bank’s inappropriate public statements and also its response to Satyam’s requests of taking back the statements. She, however, declined to elaborate on the options that the company has.

It was on Tuesday, December 23 (exactly a week after the foiled attempt by the Satyam management to takeover another promoter owned company for $1.6 billion), the World Bank banned Satyam from providing any services to the Bank for the next eight years. “Satyam was declared ineligible for contracts for providing improper benefits to Bank staff and for failing to maintain documentation to support fees charged for its subcontractors,” the statement issued by World Bank said. However, on Wednesday, the World Bank had clarified that they had no evidence of Satyam being involved in malicious attacks on the bank’s information system.

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