Today’s coloumn by Sucheta Dalal, The Indian Express carries just enough innuendo’s for those inside the media to guess the company. This is rather like the ToI’s breaking story on the Ambani feud. No names. But enough insinuations for people in the know to put two and two together and come up with 5. I quote the story in full:

One of the most animated whispers on the corporate grapevine is about tensions at a large, shadowy conglomerate, whose businesses are all as public as its finances are private. The high-profile founder of the group has not made a public appearance in well over three months. There are many stories circulating about his absence, since even senior group executives are clueless. One is that he goes underground when he suffers occasional bouts of serious depression; another says that he is abroad for crucial medical treatment. Meanwhile, the group’s star-studded family is already wracked by discord. A simple manifestation of its problem is in market reports that its seemingly endless source of funds appears to be drying up. Dozens of film producers commissioned by the group are seriously worried because their money is not easily forthcoming anymore. Meanwhile, the bigger worry for the group is probably the massive investigation into its operations and source of funds by the Reserve Bank of India and the Intelligence wing of the government. Our sources say that although a detailed and damaging report is ready, action was held back due to political turmoil in three states. Is nemesis catching up with this strange group that has used every excuse to flaunt its enormous wealth even while its finances have been allowed to remain a closely guarded secret? Or will its political networking see it through this situation too? Everything depends on the health of its head honcho.

If the story is true, have the balls to name the names. Don’t put out this kind of crap in the name of journalism. And don’t start whining about Freedom of Press when the conglomerate decides to go after you. Get your facts and publish it and stand by it. Don’t, please don’t abuse the freeedom of press by putting out unsubstantiated allegations.

Incidentally, the high profile head of the group was seen less than a month ago in an unnamed awards ceremony. And, no. He didn’t appear in a veil.