Dipped in Witriol
AJITH PILLAI
A journalist becoming a victim of a sting operation is like an anti-corruption crusader being caught accepting a bribe-- even if the money is to be used for the noble cause of fighting graft! Well, in the strange times that we live in, one is suddenly getting to hear rather disturbing news—scribes being picked up for alleged extortion, blackmail and what have you. Curiously, one common factor in all these cases is the use of the secret cam to provide proof. So, finally is the hunter becoming the hunted? Are we heading towards a situation where even misdemeanors of the members of the fourth estate will be exposed in all their audio-visual ignominy? Or will spycam footage be used to extort money from some drunken reporter who spoke ill of his seniors or covered a major news event from home sipping coffee and watching TV? The prognosis is indeed cause for concern.
While journalists are worried about their vulnerability quotient rising to alarming levels, there are those who see a big business opportunity in it. Headed by the venerable I.M. Ashwasan (assurance), an insurance agent known to have kept many a policy holder alive and paying premiums by offering prayers for their long life, proposes to launch the Scribe Insurance Corporation of India (SIC). And helping him in this endeavour-- “which will provide unique cover for journalists running for cover”— will be three agents like him and a former RAW operative who believes he is more a policy person than a sleuth.
The SIC’s core team met recently at Delhi’s Nehru Park for a “talkathon.” The venue was chosen instead of someone’s study since walls have ears while trees have only branches (like insurance companies) and hedges have stems and leaves. Anyway, that apart, after the hour long meeting Mr Ashwasan was kind enough to speak of SIC’s plans although he kept certain business secrets under wraps. Excerpts:
Q: Mr Ashwasan, to get to the point, how certain are you that SIC will take off given that there may not be enough takers from among journalists? Why, many in the profession wouldn’t have invested in life insurance policies but for tax relief…
A: Well, our research puts journalists, particularly those conducting sting operations, in the high hazard category. They may not only come to physical harm but run the risk of the people they are targeting conducting a counter sting on them. This will leave many humiliated, bitten and in police custody. That is when financial, legal and moral support is most required and an insurance policy becomes important. By the way, our projections show a 100 per cent increase in spy cam use by the media, particularly TV news channels, over the next two years. And this may go up by another 200 per cent by the fiscal ending 2017. So, ours is a business with guaranteed growth.
Q: Could you tell us exactly how SIC will help its policy holders?
A: Well, consider this: journalist X goes to politician Y and threatens him with several exposes on his shady deals (involving forest land) if he doesn’t part with a particular sum of money. The scribe’s intention is noble—he wishes to prove that Y is amenable to bribing journalists. But the idea boomerangs when the latter’s men seize the journo’s spycam and claim the footage belongs to their boss. Now, let’s suppose X has an SIC cover, then he not only gets legal assistance but also piping hot biriyani, raita and chutney in police lock up. Plus SIC arranges a counter sting exposing the politician’s weakness for singing item songs in a falsetto even as he bites his toenails splashed liberally with tomato ketchup. The threat is then held out that the video recording will be exposed on the social media and shown in his constituency. Result: he withdraws the case.
Q: But that’s a rather strange example…
A: Then take this: reporter sets up secret cam and a woman colleague to entrap a government official to part with secrets. The setting is a cosy corner of an expensive restaurant. But the sod, thinking he has at last landed his first date, speaks at length to impress the lady across the table about the Euro crisis and the pros and cons of FDI in retail. However, despite much prodding, there is not a word from him on the secrets that were supposed to be shared. The journo is left to foot the bill which will not be reimbursed by his management since the assignment came a cropper. But SIC will compensate him for it after it confirms that the operation did take place and that the bill was paid by the person covered and not by the person being stung.
Similarly, should a spycam specialist be running for dear life and finds his car tyres deflated by some naughty neigbourhood kids then SIC pays for towing away the vehicle. Also, any cost of repair of cameras will be borne by us. In the event of injury caused by assault leading to hospitalization then our representative will visit the insured journo with a get well card, flowers, sign on his cast and even read a chapter from his favourite writer (Chetan Bhagat included) or crack a few jokes free of cost. And, in case grievous harm is caused leading the stinger in question having to quit his line of work we will provide spy cams to two family members nominated by him.
Q: That sure sounds very considerate but what about those who are the targets—the people whose privacy is intruded upon? Do you have anything to offer them?
A: Unlike media managements we believe in a humane but bold approach. In fact our motto tells it all—“Sting kiyaa toh darna kya? Sting kiyaa koi chori nahi ki…” But coming to the second part of your question--we do have in mind a special policy which protects individual privacy. Those covered by it will be handed over the original of the sting footage with the commitment that no copy will be telecast or released to the media unless there is a default on two premiums.
Q: Isn’t that extortion by another name?
A: No baba, it’s not extortion but exploitation which is omnipresent. We exploit the forests, mineral resources, animals, nature, other human beings and even time-- so why not some spycam exploitation?
Q: You have indeed put that very well. But what about your premiums –it surely must be very steep?
A: Well, I cannot reveal the exact amount at this point. But it will be on the higher side. But then we are providing a high risk cover. However, the good news is that we will also have a special scheme that will make our insurance policies affordable. Those wanting a policy can pay advance premium in kind—they simply handover to SIC six top class stings and we will exploit it to the maximum and you are covered for a year.
Q: Finally, where do you see SIC two years from now?
A: All I can say is that if all goes well you next interview with me will be in a five star and not at the Nehru Park!