The Satyam Scam: A Corporate Governance Perspective

This short-paper aims to look through the Satyam Scam from the taint of corporate governance principles based on facts that prima facie appear undisputed. The paper analyses the governance principles that were violated and attempts to deduce whether such violations were sine qua non the disaster that ensued. Thus, the short-paper's core issue is whether adherence to the governance principles could have saved Satyam. The paper is focussed on the principles pertaining to independence at the board level.