NEW DELHI, July 23: When a chief executive of a Rs 3,600 crore corporation is being chosen, you'd expect a certain amount of heart-burn and even muck-raking, right? Sure, but you've probably never heard of the company's public relations chief writing to editors of leading newspapers to tell them that there's a lot of muck being raked and stories doing the rounds which are aimed at promoting/hurting the interests of the candidates. And that the editors should instruct their correspondents ``to be judicious in accepting information that is given to them till the selection process is complete''.

That, however, is precisely what's happening at the country's national carrier Air India. And, no, it isn't just anyone that's raking the dirt. It's some of the candidates themselves who're digging out old controversies aimed at hurting their rivals' chances. Topping the list of ``culprits'', is the airlines outgoing managing director Brijesh Kumar. The fight, actually in-fight is the correct term for it, puts to shame even the United Front's squabbles while choosing its candidate for the PM, on the two occasions it has had so far.

The ball was set rolling when earlier this month, Kumar wrote to the civil aviation ministry, asking it to proceed against his deputy and front-runner for the post Michael Mascarenhas, for his role in the Caribjet deal in 1994-95. Kumar accused Mascarenhas of signing the deal for wet-leasing of two Airbus A-310 aircraft for six months (January to June 1995) on November 16, 1994 without the Air India board's permission.

But why didn't Kumar take up the case earlier? And wasn't Mascarenhas cleared by a vigilance inquiry several months ago? Yes, Mascarenhas was cleared by the vigilance inquiry conducted by the airlines' vigilance officer N C Padhi. But in his letter to the ministry, Kumar has accused Padhi of shielding Mascarenhas!

Besides, as the Mascarenhas camp points out, at that time Kumar himself was a joint secretary in the ministry in charge of Air India and was a member of the board which cleared the deal in the first place. Besides, after taking charge as managing director, Kumar himself extended the Caribjet deal for a six-month period ending December 31, 1995. Last year, in fact, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had stepped in to probe the deal, but it is yet to register a regular case.

And while Kumar has now ruled out his candidacy, his rivals aren't taking any chances either -- under service rules, he has to revert to his parent cadre in Uttar Pradesh since he has completed his 5-year deputation to the centre. Inquiries have been initiated against his juniors for their alleged role in misappropriation of funds -- the implication being that all these deals had Kumar's tacit if not explicit sanction.

Chitra Sarkar, Kumar's executive assistant, for example, is being investigated for her role in the decision to give Rs 1 crore of sponsorship to Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL) for its Ms World beauty pageant in Bangalore last year. It is alleged that Air India did not get commensurate benefits/publicity out of the event.

Rohita Jaidka, chief of corporate affairs, is being investigated for what are alleged to be irregularities and violation of procedures in buying gifts worth Rs 25 lakh.

It is unclear as to whether these inquiries initiated by the current joint secretary Anil Baijal have anything to do with the fact that he himself is a contender for the post -- Baijal is also the chief vigilance officer of the ministry and is therefore technically within his rights to initiate such an inquiry.

Nor has Baijal been spared as unsubstantiated stories have already begun to do the rounds about how Baijal is misusing his position to use Air India's cars and even has a cell-phone on its account.

Ironically, these stories are doing the rounds just at a time when Air India's public relations director Jitender Bhargava wrote his letter to the newspaper editors. Someone obviously forgot to tell Bhargava that a lot of the ``leaks'' were coming from the offices of the candidates themselves!

The Caribjet details, and Mascarenhas' alleged involvement in it, for example, were given to newspaper offices by an Air India official known to be part of the Kumar camp.

What of the MD selection itself, and the chances of various contenders? It is clear by now that Brijesh Kumar is clearly out of the race.

Kumar, at one stage, looked like he could get an extension with Air India's performance improving this year -- it has projected profits this year after two years of losses. Baijal also looks like he's lost the race, even as the interim managing director.

For one, the prime minister is believed to be in favour of promoting an insider. Second, the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has recently issued guidelines which state that a senior bureaucrat's candidacy can only be accepted if he/she quits from the services and opts to be absorbed in the organisation he/she wishes to join.

While the PESB will be conducting interviews for the job at the end of the month, Mascarenhas is likely to be the choice for interim MD at least. Apart from the fact that he has worked for Air India for nearly two decades, he was also in the running when Kumar took over in 1995.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.