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Mumbai: The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has summoned executives of Deloitte Haskins Sells, the auditing arm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, following allegation by a ‘whistleblower’ that the firm had helped fudge the accounts of ILFS Financial Services.
“While a partner of the firm was quizzed on Friday, another audit partner has been asked to make himself available to join the probe,” an official in the know told ET.
“The allegation levelled in the complaint is being studied.
Explanation will be sought from all parties concerned before concluding if the claims made are genuine or misguided,” said the official.
“As you are aware, there are several ongoing investigations by regulators and agencies.
Such agencies are in contact with us being the previous auditors,” a Deloitte spokesperson said.
“We have provided full support to their investigations and will continue to do so.”
The agency has also quizzed other audit and consultancy firms engaged by the ILFS group.
SFIO, the investigation arm of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, had in November submitted an interim report detailing the alleged irregularities surrounding ILFS.
It had then recommended the government to put restrictions on transactions by some key managerial people at the infrastructure group.
It is now close to completing the final report, people in the know said.
Earlier this month, the agency arrested Hari Sankaran, the former vice chairman of ILFS.
He is currently lodged in Mumbai’s Byculla district jail.
In a three-page letter, submitted to the agency, the ‘whistleblower’ claimed that the audit and tax consultancy firm was aware of the factual situation on the financial mismanagement and impropriety at ILFS.
The complainant, claimed to be a senior member of the client team at Deloitte Haskins Sells, alleged that the auditing firm had received several advisory works from the former board of ILFS.
