NEW DELHI: Corporate lobbyist
Deepak Talwar is alleged to have played a key role in firefighting for
SIS Live, the
UK sports broadcaster against which allegations of favouritism and wrongdoing were levelled after it won a contract to cover the
2010 Commonwealth Games.
Investigating agencies claim to have recovered letters and emails between Talwar and associates of SIS Live discussing plans to “target and undermine the work” of a government-appointed panel that had come out with an adverse report against the broadcaster. The emails were reviewed by ET.
The committee headed by VK Shunglu, former Comptroller and Auditor General, said in its report that the terms of the Rs 246-crore deal between state-owned
Prasar Bharati and SIS Live were changed to give undue financial gains to the UK company.
The Shunglu committee was set up on October 25, 2010, to probe the alleged irregularities in awarding the contract to SIS Live and the panel submitted an interim report in January 2011. The report had adverse remarks against SIS on issues including misappropriation and lack of infrastructure.
According to the investigating agencies, the exchange of correspondence showed that an elaborate plan had been prepared by Talwar’s consultancy company, Deepak Talwar Associates (
DTA), which was to be paid a monthly fee of 25,000 pounds, excluding out-of-pocket expenses.
DTA recommended that the focus of its lobbying efforts should be on the Prime Minister’s Office, parliamentarians across party lines and ministers.
The “approach” to be taken is a“proactive management plan for managing key constituencies – Central government, parliamentarians, media and other influencers,” DTA wrote in its proposal. It said certain MPs would be key in generating debates on the matter, which would often be picked up by senior journalists.
In response, an official of the UK company wrote saying the “fundamental question” was how strong SIS should be in terms of what it says publicly and who should be criticised – Shunglu, the sports minister, the CBI or the PM.
“Who do you propose should “front” the press conferences?” the official asked Talwar, advising him to keep SIS Live out of the picture.
DTA’s proposal suggested focussing on the
PMO, which “while not directly impacting policy decisions of the various ministries can have a major influence on the relevant ministries.”
Other “focus groups” it suggested included the sports, information & broadcasting, and law & justice ministries and the Central Bureau of Investigation. It laid emphasis on “key opinion-making MPs across party lines.”
The trail of communication shows the role of Shunglu was discussed at length.