Cultivation of another kind…

Leaked internal mails allegedly reveal favors by Corporate groups to people in places of power

Another whistle was blown on Friday, just a day before Union budget gets placed in the parliament and grabs the lime light, revealing several internal mails of a corporate group, ESSAR, which has allegedly engaged in unethical practices of appeasing a number of politicians, bureaucrats and journalists by offering smart phones, jobs to recommended candidates, free rides and even (as small as) top ups.The mails also mention other corporate groups which have mastered the art according to them.

However, all the mainstream channels on Friday were selective in targeting the Union Minister Nithin Gadkari, keeping the corporate entity and the other beneficiaries out of the debate mostly. Almost all the channels spent their air time in questioning the Union Minister Nithin Gadkari's propriety (moral or otherwise) in taking a two night trip with his family to a french cruise ship, which belongs to a subsidiary of ESSAR corporate group, during one of their foreign tours in July, 2013. The Minister's family has also allegedly used the company's chopper for their travel to the yacht.

Mr. Gadkari was reportedly not in any official position at that time in the government or in BJP, but his influence over his party Chief Ministers at that time and his current portfolio as a Union Minister, are well with in the bounds of taking important decisions, which might have or may favor the ESSAR group. But the "quid pro quo" is not established by any party just yet. On the other side, Mr. Gadkari and his defenders inside and outside BJP say that he had only visited a friend during his personal tour with his family and that it doesn't amount to propriety. But, none of these people were asked what they think about the corporate groups internal mails in which company officials discuss about cultivating influential personalities, which clearly shows their intentions. Some mails also seem to have mentioned similar practices by other big corporates like Reliance and Airtel.

Some other conspicuous issues that came out of the mails are the proposals to offer smart phones and job opportunities to the candidates recommended by these personalities that include prominent politicians like Digvijay Singh, who when approached by media said that they have only recommended eligible candidates and apparently felt nothing wrong in doing so. Hail the impartial partiality of our Netas.

Following the exposes, some of the journalists, who allegedly received cab services among others, have faced the wrath from their managements, which in the case of Hindustan Times seems to have opened more such allegations as per this report. More detailed report about the expose in Indian express can be found here.

Renowned Supreme court lawyer and a crusader of corruption, Prashanth Bhushan has filed people interest litigation on the issue, while the ESSAR group has released a statement saying that leaking of their private mails amounts to theft and that they will take legal steps. They have also stated that some of the mails are 'apparently' fabricated.

Caravan's latest report with proofs on Gadkari's report can be found here. 

Additions:

Fresh detailed report in NewsLaundry explains how Essar officials have allegedly tried to persuade journalists to alter articles in their favor. The report also mentions some articles which might or might not have influenced by the group. One particular article mentioned among them, about the group's involvement in the 2G scam, was reported by Ashish Khetan, who was with Tehalka then, and is currently a prominent member of Aam Aadmi Party. However, there is no mention of any favors to him in the mails that do mention some other journalists from some prominent media organizations.