Former consulting editor for ANN7, Rajesh Sundaram, told the City Press newspaper that he went into hiding after being pursued by Atul Gupta\u2019s armed bodyguard following his resignation.<\/p>\n
According to the report, Sundaram had requested that he paid for the overtime he worked, which lead to a blowout with Gupta.<\/p>\n
City Press goes on to quote Sundaram as saying that in a meeting about his demands, Gupta \u201churled all kinds of abuse\u201d at him.<\/p>\n
Sundaram told the paper that this was expected behaviour from Gupta as he would get verbally abusive with staff that weren\u2019t in the office at 06:00 despite working past midnight.<\/p>\n
Following the meeting with Gupta, Sundaram said that ANN7 technical boss Laxmi Goel issued a veiled threat that he would ruin his career or harm him if he didn\u2019t sign acceptance of 5 days of pay with no overtime. Sundaram tendered his resignation on Friday, 30 August 2013, five days after the last payday of 25 August 2013, City Press reported.<\/p>\n
Sundaram declined to sign and left the ANN7 offices, followed by one of Atul Gupta\u2019s armed bodyguards.<\/p>\n
After a brief exchange, Sundaram told City Press he made a run for it when the bodyguard seemed intent on forcibly returning him to Gupta\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
Since going into hiding, Sundaram has reached out to the press for protection, the City Press reported.<\/p>\n
Sundaram told City Press that he had attended meetings where the Gupta\u2019s had given assurances that ANN7 would be pro-ANC.<\/p>\n
According to Sundaram, the meetings were held at Zuma\u2019s official residence in Pretoria with Ajay and Atul Gupta, Nazeem Howa (group CEO), and Moegsien Williams (editor in chief) in attendance.<\/p>\n
Sundaram said that to his recollection they took a pre-recorded news bulletin for Zuma to watch for their third meeting, during July 2013.<\/p>\n
He told City Press that Zuma said it was better than the SABC, and said that there should not be any direct propaganda when it was suggested a TV unit follow him around.<\/p>\n
Zuma said that all sides should be represented and that the pro-ANC stance should be subtle, Sundaram is quoted as saying.<\/p>\n
City Press reported that ANN7 hit back at Sundaram\u2019s claims saying that he is a disgruntled former editorial consultant making outlandish allegations unworthy of a response.<\/p>\n
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