Confed in a standoff with SES

Chennai: Following a case of forgery masterminded by a sales executive of SES Technologies, a meeting was held between members of Confed-ITA, Chennai-based Information Technology Traders Association (ITTA) and Sneham, Vellore Association for IT (VAIT) and Vasavi Computers with representatives of SES. The scam was allegedly plotted in partnership with Chennai-based Sree Computers. During the meeting, SES mentioned that it had all the evidence of the billings that were done with the channel partners, who were bound to make the payments.

The meeting with SES representatives was called after the dealers, who were victims of the forged billing case, approached Confed-ITA to bring transparency in the case.

In the meeting SES mentioned that since they have evidence of the billing that was done with the channel partners and the material was supplied to them, they would collect the payments and if the partners assume involvement of any fraudulent activities, they can take legal action to investigate into the matter.

PN Prasad, President, Confed-ITA informed that SES is not considering the fact that since the matter of fraud billing has been highlighted Arun Prasad, Sales Executive, SES has been absconding. Alwar Rajan, Proprietor, Sree Computers has also vanished since the matter has surfaced.

Prasad informed that SES presented the invoice of materials supplied to channel partners, however, the evidences that they were showing was fabricated. “They showed us the authorization letter of purchase of materials, however, they were not orginals as the letterhead was handwritten and the signature of the dealers were in photocopied form. The documents are not original, they have been forged,” he informed.

Confed-ITA had communicated to SES to excuse the channel partners from paying the amounts that vary from Rs 2 lakh to 35 lakh, as it was not generated by them.

CP Praveen, CEO, Vasavi Computers, one of the duped parters shared that as of now they have not decided what they plan to do next. But he stated that all the documents presented by SES were forged and they would take relevant action against the disti in consultation with Confed-ITA.

It is also reported that Sree Computers owed Rs 37 lakh to SES and the entire scam was designed in order to pay the due amount. Incidentally, Rajan of Sree Computers also filed an insolvency petition in Madras High Court last month. Further, Rajan forged bills worth Rs 80 lakh on the name of other dealers. In total, he is facing bankruptcy of Rs 1.3 crore.

On the issue of signature, SES replied to Confed-ITA that if they find any forgery in the signature they can go ahead and take the relevant legal action against the company.

“According to SES, everything is the fault of dealers and they have to make the payment any how. They are even threatening to take legal action against dealers. However, they are not answering to the fact that their employees who were involved in the matter are not coming to work. To take further action in the matter, the executive committee of Confed-ITA would take a joint decision after holding a meeting at end of the month,” informed Prasad.

When contacted, Suresh Tuteja, GM-Finance, SES Technologies said, “Whatever documents SES has presented in the meeting to Confed-ITA are absolutely original. If partners believe that there is any issue they can take support of judiciary. Channel partners have to make the due payments to us in the absence of which we will be compelled to take legal action against them.”

He further questioned why partners are raising the issue all of a sudden when Shree Computers in not operating in the market. “If this is the situation then they should have had the same problems earlier also,” added Tuteja.

The members present in the meeting were Prasad of Confed-ITA, MC Jain and Rakesh Jain of ITTA, Kumar of Sneham, Arunugam of VAIT, Ashu Chawla, Director, SES, Tuteja of SES, Venkatesh, Branch Manager-Chennai Region, SES.