Remember Rajesh Sundaram, the former ANN7 senior editor who said he feared for his life after quitting the Gupta-founded news network? Well now he has plans to pen a tell-all book about the dreadful three months he spent working at ANN7. The book will be called ‘Indentured’.

Sundaram has secured a deal with a South African publisher, and the front cover of his book will feature the work permit that was issued to him when he joined the news network that is now surrounded by controversy.

After returning to New Delhi, Sundaram filed a complaint with the South African department of home affairs, claiming that dozens of Indians who were hired to work for ANN7 were issued tourist visas. He also claims that the employees that were issued with business visas and intra-company transfers were issued visas in a matter of days after pressure was applied by Jacob Zuma’s office.

In his complaint he wrote:

I know that political pressure from the highest level was exerted on officials at the South African High Commission in Delhi to expedite these visas.

Sundaram said in his complaint that the skills required for many of the jobs held by Indian nationals are available in South Africa, but were too expensive to hire, so instead ANN7 sent a recruiter to India to round up employees and sent them to South Africa on the next available flight with tourist visas.

Nazeem Howa, the chief executive of Infinity Media, which owns ANN7 denied all claims made by Sundaram and says:

Sundaram’s claims regarding the president are another falsehood, designed to embarrass us into acceding to his financial demands.

The department of home affairs have confirmed to the Mail & Guardian that they are currently investigating Sundaram’s complaint.

‘Indentured’ is set to be on the shelves by Christmas.

[Source: Mail & Guardian]