Swaminathan Gurumurthy, popularly known as a writer and journalist in India, is a corporate adviser of high standing, being a chartered accountant by profession. Highly rated for his investigative writing, he has ceaselessly campaigned against corruption at high places, exposing the bribery in Bofors arms deal and the nexus between corporates and government. A beleaguered government persecuted and arrested Gurumurthy, but faced humiliation with the entire media standing by him. The issues raised by Gurumurthy had a major impact on the outcome of the parliamentary election in 1989 leading to the defeat of the most powerful government in India since independence. Hamish McDonald, well-known Australian journalist, wrote in his book 'Polyester Baron', that Gurumurthy’s investigative work 'must rank among the most powerful examples of investigative journalism anywhere in the world', emphasising that Gurumurthy had 'a strong sense of probity'. The Business Baron magazine rated Gurumurthy’s knowledge of economics, finance and accounts as ‘outstanding’. BG Verghese, a highly respected journalist, described Gurumurthy in his biography on the media baron Ramnath Goenka as a 'brilliant chartered accountant and exceedingly astute amateur lawyer'. Gurumurthy was rated among 50 most powerful persons in India in 1990 [Gentleman magazine]; as the 8th most powerful [Business Baron magazine 2004]; as the 17th most powerful [India Today magazine in 2005].