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In connection with the multi-billion dollar Satyam scam, the US auditing watchdog has barred from public practice two Indian auditors associated with the IT firm's former auditor PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
As per an order from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the two Indians -- Siva Prasad Pulavarthi and Chintapatla Ravindernath -- have been barred from being associated with any registered public accounting firm.
The PCAOB said in its order that the auditors did not cooperate with its investigation into the fraud. The two held important positions like Engagement Manager and Client Relationship Managers for Satyam audit mandate to LoveLock & Lewes, which is one of the five members of PwC International Ltd network of firms in India.
LoveLock had done the auditing of Satyam' account for four years between 2004-05 to 2007-08. They were responsible for supervising and reviewing audit work related to cash accounts and receivables. However, they had resigned from their post in January 2010.
The PCAOB board had ordered an investigation regarding the audits and reviews of the financial statements of Satyam in January 2009.
In January last year, Satyam founder B Ramalinga Raju had admitted to fudging the company's accounts to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion) and inflating profits.