Politics is a messy business, but sometimes the public plumbing backs up completely and exposes the raw, unvarnished sleaze underneath. Right now, the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption is airing dirty laundry that makes typical political maneuvering look tame. We are watching a masterclass in how unsubstantiated gossip gets weaponized against politicians who stand in the way of big money.
If you have been following the nine weeks of public hearings, you know the inquiry centers on allegations that Liberal figures took millions in illegal donations from property developer Jean Nassif or his company Toplace in exchange for political favors. One of those favored outcomes supposedly involved kneecapping David Elliott, a former Liberal minister who had a frustrating habit of opposing Toplace developments. For a different perspective, consider: this related article.
Sharangan Maheswaran took the stand and dropped details about how a grubby rumor regarding an alleged affair and a COVID-19 restriction breach by Elliott was pushed into the media machine.
The anatomy of a political smear campaign
When property developers want a hostile politician out of the way, they do not just write angry letters. They hire private investigators and use operatives to dig up dirt—or manufacture the illusion of it. Further reporting on this trend has been provided by The Guardian.
Maheswaran admitted he gave a private investigator named "Mr. Nanetti" Elliott's home address back in 2020. The goal? Track the minister and substantiate a rumor about an extramarital affair happening in defiance of pandemic lockdown rules. Nanetti made initial observations as a favor, but soon the assignment escalated. Maheswaran forked over $1,000 to send the investigator back for photographic proof.
Let us be honest. People do not hand over cash for casual stakeouts unless they expect a return on investment.
When pressed by counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC, Maheswaran confessed he also offered a lobbyist named Jeremy Greenwood $1,000 to get a major news outlet to pick up the yarn. Text messages presented to the commission showed Maheswaran telling Greenwood he was "not joking" about the cash incentive.
They tried pitching the story to the Daily Telegraph, complete with photos of Elliott sitting in a car with a woman who was not his wife and a draft statutory declaration from the private investigator.
There was just one giant problem. The entire narrative was completely false. Elliott explained that the photos captured him signing work documents, and multiple witnesses confirmed zero factual basis existed for the affair allegation.
Why operatives push fake scandals
The mechanics of media placement in political circles rely on plausible deniability and sensationalism. If you can plant a salacious rumor about a high-profile conservative minister breaking lockdown rules during a national health crisis, you create an instant firestorm.
Maheswaran defended his actions on the stand by claiming he has a decade-long track record of pitching stories adverse to Liberal and National politicians, arguing that Nassif was simply the source of the rumor rather than the orchestrator of the pitch.
The commission remains skeptical, and for good reason. When cash changes hands over unverified parking lot photos and draft statutory declarations, it crosses the line from political gossip into coordinated sabotage.
We also saw how easily digital communications get distorted during these inquiries. Dwyer revealed that certain 2021 phone recordings where Elliott seemingly criticized Dominic Perrottet were actually accidental pocket dials sent to former MP Nathaniel Smith and later passed around. Transcripts that originally pointed to sinister covert recordings had to be quietly amended to inadvertent voice memos.
What this means for political accountability
Anti-corruption bodies like ICAC exist precisely to drag these backroom machinations into the sunlight. Too many political careers get derailed by whispers, anonymous tips, and coordinated media leaks that turn out to be entirely fabricated.
When property developers pump cash into political networks to remove regulatory roadblocks, public trust evaporates entirely.
If you want to understand how modern power dynamics operate behind closed doors, look past the official press releases. Look at the text messages, the cash incentives for private eyes, and the frantic attempts to land a damaging headline before breakfast.
The hearings are wrapping up, but the stench of these tactics will linger long after the final witness steps down. Keep a close eye on how political parties handle covert lobbying moving forward, because the system is still riddled with loopholes.
