A significant stake in IT firm Patni Computer Systems maybe on the block. But that is not worrying chairman and CEO Narendra Patni reports CNBC-TV 18. Patni said he was not aware of his brothers selling any of their stake.

Patni Computer Systems, which is the country''s oldest and sixth largest IT company, may soon have new investors.

Sources say two of Patni Computer Systems'' promoters, Ashok Kumar Patni and Gajendra Kumar Patni, who together own about 29 per cent in the company may have put their stakes up for sale.

But their brother, Narendra Patni did not confirm or deny the news. Narendra Patni, said, "All I can tell you is that A K Patni and G K Patni are major shareholders in the company and all shareholders are free to sell their shares."

On whether that applied to Narendra Patni, he said, "I am committed to this company. I have told employees and customers that I am not selling; I am not one of the sellers."

While the rumour mills point towards IBM, Accenture, Capgemini and other IT companies as potential buyers, Narendra Patni said it is private equity players that have always been interested.

He added, "If a private equity investor could combine his equity purchase and we can relate it to its IT spend, it can make a good contribution to the company."

And, at the right price, Patni himself may consider increasing his stake in his company.

In the coming months Patni''s exisiting investors can be expected to seek further clarifications on what exactly is going on in the company. Unless that happens, rumour mills will continue adding fire to the speculation.

Patni Computer Systems shares closed at Rs555, down about 1 per cent.