Remember the PR guy who manipulated the entire national and international media to project Shilpa Shetty as an icon against racial discrimination; taking a step further from the developments in the popular UK reality show Big Brother.

The publicist from Mumbai who also handles some of the biggest Bollywood stars and films, propelled Shilpa in a web of controversies, only to save her later, with orchestrated media plans and a flowery diva-like image makeover. That is our desi PR guru Dale Bhagwagar for you (now popularly known as 'Hitler' in Bollywood trade circles).

The latest rumor doing the rounds is that this self-styled celebrity publicist has tied-up with an undercover outfit specializing in 'sting operations'.

The outfit is said to have approached Dale for help and the publicist is learnt to have given them some leads and tip-offs to begin with. Apparently, it uses advanced gadgets like pens, watches and shirt buttons, apart from mobile phones, to carry out their secret operations, the cost of which range from Rs 8,000 onwards.

According to reports, the Bollywood publicist has commissioned it to carry out two sting operations, one on a media big-shot and another on an actress who is dating a top star from a couple of years.

He is learnt to have tipped off this undercover outfit about clues, how to go about the operations. It is also said that Dale even has a deal in place for planting all the footage on a news channel.

On inquiring, the publicist admitted that such an organization indeed contacted him. "Yes, it's true. A guy who claimed to head a team specializing in stings approached me through one of my closest friends. He wanted to do business with me. But I told him, I am in the business of protecting images, and am not interested to get any stings done," he states.

So what about the news that he has tipped them off about two people? "No. I haven't. But to be honest with you, since I have been an investigative journalist in the past, the sting idea is too tempting and has been playing on my mind ever since that guy met me," Dale laughs.

So will this image-maker turn an image destroyer? Going by his background as a risk-taker and his penchant for control, don't be surprised if this publicist actually participates in something like this. God save his foes. -(SAMPURN)