BJP MP Jayant Sinha’s offer you to advise a private firm for an unspecified charge has triggered a query of ‘propriety’ and ‘conflict of interest’ in public life. Sinha heads the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Finance. According to a report by , Jayant Sinha not too long ago met NRI investor Arminder Singh Sawhney and discussed a project for an entertainment business. Following the meeting, Sinha wrote to B4U Network CEO Ishan Saksena in connection with Tiger Media, a business linked to B4U. In that e-mail, the BJP leader stated that he will dedicate considerable time to the project. “My goal is to assist Tiger Media in becoming a true champion in the global entertainment industry…My pricing for this project would be Rs XX lakhs per month plus GST. I would bill you at the end of every month,” Sinha was quoted as saying by IE. The BJP leader also told Saksena he could commence work from March 1.
As per the report, Sinha additional stated that the crucial objectives of the connection have been to establish a strategic program for Tiger Media to take benefit of the “disruptive trends roiling the global media and entertainment sector,” and safe financing. Sinha was MoS for Finance from November 2014 to July 2016 and MoS for Civil Aviation from 2016 to 2019. Since September 2019, Sinha has served as head of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Finance.
The IE spoke to Sinha to get his comments on the propriety of such an assignment. Responding to IE, Sinha stated that the MPs routinely continue their professions. He stated that his profession was that of a management consultant giving strategic inputs by way of speeches and advisory assignments. To prevent any conflicts, he stated, he only accepts advisory assignments dealing with strategic challenges outdoors of India. “I do not do any work for any firms in the financial sector. I also do not undertake any assignments focused on any type of financial transactions,” he told IE.
When pointed out that his letter to Saxena mentions that he will assistance Tiger Media in “securing sufficient financing at the right terms”, the BJP legislator stated that he has recognized Arminder Singh Sawhney for more than 25 years. “We had initiated preliminary discussions on providing inputs to Tiger Media on its global strategy. No agreement has been finalized and no work has been undertaken so far…all my professional work is fully disclosed to the appropriate tax and regulatory authorities. As is standard professional practice, client matters are confidential,” Sinha stated.
Tiger Media group, having said that, denied any connection with Sawhney. It also stated that the business does not engage any politically affiliated individual for any service. A Tiger Media spokesperson, responding on behalf of Saksena, told IE Arminder Singh Sawhney was not an investor in Tiger Media or any of its group entities. “There is no other relationship between our group and him (Sawhney). For ethical and legal reasons our group does not engage any politically affiliated person for seeking any services anywhere in the world. Hence, there is no question of approaching any politically affiliated person for engagement of any nature,” the spokesperson stated.