Advisors | Ekalavya Hansaj

Kumar Rajan

Advisor — Legal Risk & Media Law

Region: Global

Defamation Court posture Right-of-reply Records

Kumar helps our reporters avoid mistakes that turn a strong dossier into a legal mess. He focuses on clean wording, clean proof, and clean process.

Bio

Works with long investigations where wording must match evidence
Comfortable reading documents line by line and spotting weak claims
Plain-language approach that non-lawyers can follow

Focus

Pre-publication legal risk checks for high-risk claims
Defensible phrasing that stays inside the record
How to document “we tried to contact them” properly

Beats

Corporate wrongdoing and public contracts
Political accountability and public office conduct
Claims that can trigger injunction attempts

Capabilities

Risk-mapping for each key allegation
Checklist for evidence register completeness
Review of reply letters and response summaries

Responsibilities

For Ekalavya Hansaj, he sharpens the “what we can prove” line so each headline matches the file.
He creates stop-sign notes when a claim lacks a document, witness, or traceable public record.
He helps editors choose the safest path without watering down true facts.

Career Summary

Built repeatable legal review routines for investigative publishing
Worked with teams facing takedown threats and legal notices
Known for turning legal language into simple newsroom steps

Credibility Markers

Method-first: evidence before adjectives
Prefers written logs over verbal promises
Consistent approach across outlets and regions

Departments

Legal & Risk Desk
Corrections & Standards Desk
Right-of-Reply Workflow

Role & scope

Advises on legal posture for sensitive dossiers and response letters.
Reviews policy language when standards are updated.

Expertise

Defamation and reputational risk
Fair comment and protected opinion boundaries
Document-based allegation framing
Right-of-reply process design
Corrections readiness checks
Retention rules for evidence files

Relevant experience (highlights)

Guided investigative teams through pre-publication risk reviews
Helped draft reply requests and response summaries for dossiers
Designed “claim-to-proof” tables for long reports

Independence & disclosures

Current affiliations: Independent advisor (no public political office stated)
Consulting clients: Not listed publicly; disclosed internally where needed
Material conflicts: Recusal required if a dossier touches a related party

Contact channel (controlled): advisors@HansajEkalavya.com

Priyanka Pandey

Advisor — Safety, Field Risk & Secure Workflows

Region: Global

Field safety Secure steps Threat plans Travel

Priyanka helps teams do hard reporting without getting careless. Her job is to make safety simple, repeatable, and real.

Bio

Works on practical safety steps that busy reporters will actually follow
Builds routines that reduce panic during high-pressure work
Focuses on prevention, not hero stories

Focus

Threat modeling for stories with retaliation risk
Check-in plans, safe meeting rules, and exit paths
Secure handling rules for devices and notes

Beats

Corruption investigations with real-world pushback
Work involving vulnerable witnesses
Stories that require in-person verification

Capabilities

Safety brief templates before field work begins
“What if it goes wrong?” decision trees
Training drills that reduce risky improvisation

Responsibilities

Inside Ekalavya Hansaj, she sets the rule: no meeting, no travel, and no device use without a safety plan on file.
She designs “quiet” workflows so sensitive work does not shout online or inside shared tools.
She trains teams to spot danger early and to leave before a situation turns.

Career Summary

Built safety playbooks for teams working on sensitive topics
Helped standardize reporting check-ins across distributed teams
Known for calm, direct guidance under time pressure

Credibility Markers

Prefers written plans and shared signals over verbal assumptions
Understands that safety and speed must work together
Keeps advice short enough to be used in the moment

Departments

Safety & Security Desk
Field Operations Support
Source Meeting Protocol

Role & scope

Advises on field plans, secure routines, and escalation steps for risky reporting.
Supports training and incident reviews when a workflow fails.

Expertise

Threat modeling
Safe meeting design
Travel risk basics
Device hygiene routines
Team check-in systems
Incident post-mortems

Relevant experience (highlights)

Set safety standards used by distributed reporting teams
Led training on “how to leave safely” and “how to avoid being followed” basics
Built checklists for secure storage of notes and media

Independence & disclosures

Current affiliations: Independent safety advisor (no government role stated)
Consulting clients: Not listed publicly; shared internally when needed
Material conflicts: Steps back from any matter tied to her prior work

Contact channel (controlled): advisors@HansajEkalavya.com

Manju Sharma

Advisor — Human Rights, Harm Review & Sensitive Sources

Region: Global

Harm checks Vulnerable people Redactions Ethics

Manju helps us publish hard truths without harming the wrong people. She pushes for dignity, safety, and clear reasons for every detail we show.

Bio

Works on harm checks before publication
Helps teams handle consent, anonymity, and high-risk identity details
Keeps advice simple so it can be used under deadline

Focus

Redaction decisions with clear reasons
Minors, survivors, and witnesses who may face retaliation
Balancing public interest with private harm

Beats

Human rights abuses and institutional violence
Community conflicts and forced displacement
Cases involving public shaming risks

Capabilities

Harm review checklists for dossier teams
Guidance on naming vs not naming, with logic recorded
Consent language that readers can understand

Responsibilities

At Ekalavya Hansaj, she flags details that can expose a witness even when a name is hidden.
She insists on a written reason when teams keep or remove sensitive facts.
She helps editors decide what to publish now, and what to hold back for safety.

Career Summary

Worked on harm-aware publication routines
Helped teams handle survivor stories with care and clarity
Known for reducing risk without hiding truth

Credibility Markers

Uses “least harm” thinking without weakening accountability
Asks: “Who gets hurt if we publish this detail?”
Records decisions so the team can explain them later

Departments

Ethics & Harm Desk
Source Protection Support
Post-Publication Review

Role & scope

Advises on harm reduction, redactions, and safe handling of identities.
Supports post-publication reviews if harm concerns are raised.

Expertise

Harm minimization
Consent and anonymity basics
Redaction logic
Vulnerable groups safeguards
Trauma-aware interviewing notes
Ethics escalation routines

Relevant experience (highlights)

Built publish/withhold decision templates used on sensitive dossiers
Advised on identity protection in high-risk reporting
Supported editorial teams during public backlash cycles

Independence & disclosures

Current affiliations: Independent advisor (no party role stated)
Consulting clients: Not listed publicly for safety; disclosed internally if needed
Material conflicts: Recusal if she has prior ties to involved groups

Contact channel (controlled): advisors@HansajEkalavya.com

Aditi Bansal

Advisor — OSINT Verification & Documentation

Region: Global

OSINT Verification logs Geo checks Screenshots

Aditi helps teams prove what they say. She cares about traceable steps, saved copies, and simple notes that hold up later.

Bio

OSINT trainer who prefers checklists over shortcuts
Builds routines for saving links, captures, and timestamps
Writes steps so a new researcher can repeat the work

Focus

Verification logs that separate “seen” from “assumed”
Archiving before links disappear
Cross-checking accounts, images, and location hints

Beats

Online influence and public narrative manipulation
Corporate networks and shell entities research
Conflict-zone media verification basics

Capabilities

Source grading rules for open web material
Image and video sanity checks
Step-by-step proof notes for dossiers

Responsibilities

For Ekalavya Hansaj, she tightens how we log every open-source claim so audits are fast.
She sets standards for saving pages before they are edited or deleted.
She helps teams label what can be published and what must stay internal.

Career Summary

Built OSINT workflows used by multi-person teams
Trained researchers in verification discipline and archiving
Known for catching “almost true” claims before they publish

Credibility Markers

Always asks for a second source or a saved copy
Keeps notes simple and time-stamped
Refuses “it looked real” as a proof standard

Departments

OSINT & Verification Desk
Evidence Register Support
Data Integrity Checks

Role & scope

Advises on OSINT methods, verification logs, and publishable proof packaging.
Runs training clinics for researchers and editors.

Expertise

OSINT workflow design
Archiving and link capture
Source grading
Image/video checks
Verification logs
Evidence packaging

Relevant experience (highlights)

Created repeatable “verify then write” playbooks for teams
Helped set archive-first standards for disappearing web sources
Reviewed OSINT-heavy sections of long-form investigations

Independence & disclosures

Current affiliations: Independent OSINT advisor (no public office stated)
Consulting clients: Not listed publicly; shared internally as needed
Material conflicts: Recusal when past work overlaps with a subject

Contact channel (controlled): advisors@HansajEkalavya.com

Sachin Sharma

Advisor — Data Handling, Evidence Control & Audit Trails

Region: Global

Chain-of-custody Data hygiene Backups Logs

Sachin makes sure evidence does not get lost, mixed up, or changed by accident. He is strict about who touched what, and when.

Bio

Builds evidence control routines for large investigations
Prefers small rules that prevent big failures
Writes systems that teams can follow without special tools

Focus

Chain-of-custody basics for digital files
Folder rules and naming rules that stay consistent
Keeping raw material separate from working copies

Beats

Financial records and structured datasets
Large leaks that require careful organization
Multi-team investigations with shared evidence pools

Capabilities

Evidence register templates that scale to big dossiers
File integrity checks and change tracking
Simple audit steps for editors under deadline

Responsibilities

At Ekalavya Hansaj, he enforces a clean split between raw evidence, analyst notes, and publishable extracts.
He sets “two-copy” rules so no single deletion can kill a dossier.
He tests evidence logs so a new editor can understand them in minutes.

Career Summary

Designed audit-ready evidence handling for investigative teams
Built simple systems for storing and tracking sensitive files
Known for preventing chaos in large, messy data projects

Credibility Markers

“If it is not logged, it did not happen” discipline
Pushes teams to keep originals untouched
Builds habits that survive staff turnover

Departments

Evidence Control Desk
Data Integrity Desk
Verification Log Support

Role & scope

Advises on evidence storage, audit trails, and chain-of-custody routines.
Supports post-publication evidence reviews when challenged.

Expertise

Evidence registers
Chain-of-custody basics
File integrity checks
Backup routines
Access control practices
Audit-ready workflows

Relevant experience (highlights)

Set evidence handling standards for multi-team investigations
Built review routines for large, mixed-format evidence libraries
Helped editors run quick audits before publication

Independence & disclosures

Current affiliations: Independent data workflow advisor
Consulting clients: Not public; available to editors under controlled disclosure
Material conflicts: Withdraws from dossiers linked to prior client work

Contact channel (controlled): advisors@HansajEkalavya.com

Victoria Carson

Advisor — Cyber Hygiene & Account Security

Region: Global

Account locks Phishing Device safety Access rules

Victoria helps keep reporters, editors, and sources safer online. Her work is about basics done well, every day, without drama.

Bio

Works on practical security habits for real newsrooms
Focuses on preventing account takeovers and data leaks
Explains risk in plain words, not tech slang

Focus

Password and passkey standards
Two-factor setup and recovery planning
Phishing resistance training

Beats

Investigations that draw digital harassment
Stories with hostile monitoring attempts
Work requiring careful identity separation

Capabilities

Account hardening checklists
Secure access role design for teams
Incident steps when a device is compromised

Responsibilities

For Ekalavya Hansaj, she runs “account lock weeks” so old risks do not stay hidden.
She creates minimum security rules for shared inboxes and shared drives.
She helps teams separate personal life from investigation work online.

Career Summary

Supported high-risk teams with simple cyber hygiene routines
Built role-based access rules for collaborative work
Known for reducing breaches by fixing everyday habits

Credibility Markers

Prefers “boring but safe” over fancy tools
Focuses on recovery planning, not just prevention
Keeps checklists short enough to complete

Departments

Cyber Safety Desk
Account Security Reviews
Secure Comms Support

Role & scope

Advises on account hardening, access rules, and incident response basics.
Supports staff training and periodic security checkups.

Expertise

Two-factor setup
Recovery planning
Phishing defense
Access controls
Device compromise steps
Identity separation routines

Relevant experience (highlights)

Ran account security drills for teams under harassment
Designed access rules for shared investigative work
Helped teams respond quickly after suspicious logins

Independence & disclosures

Current affiliations: Independent security advisor
Consulting clients: Not public; disclosed internally if needed
Material conflicts: Recusal for matters tied to prior engagements

Contact channel (controlled): advisors@HansajEkalavya.com

Stephanie Owers

Advisor — Editorial Standards & Corrections Readiness

Region: Global

Standards Corrections Clarity Consistency

Stephanie helps keep our work consistent across a big network. She focuses on simple standards that stop small errors from spreading.

Bio

Standards-focused editor who likes clean structure
Helps teams explain what they know and how they know it
Strong at turning messy drafts into readable dossiers

Focus

Corrections and updates workflow
Consistency of labels, terms, and definitions
Reader clarity in long evidence-heavy writing

Beats

Complex investigations with many moving parts
Multi-source dossiers that need careful phrasing
Stories where misunderstandings create legal risk

Capabilities

Standards checklists for editors
Corrections templates that are honest and clear
Definition tables for long dossiers

Responsibilities

At Ekalavya Hansaj, she keeps our dossier structure steady so readers do not get lost.
She runs checks that catch contradictions between sections before the public does.
She strengthens corrections language so updates feel direct, not defensive.

Career Summary

Built editorial standards playbooks for large publishing teams
Helped teams maintain clarity across long-form reports
Known for making updates transparent and readable

Credibility Markers

Clear definitions before strong conclusions
Prefers reader understanding over clever writing
Pushes teams to show their work

Departments

Editorial Standards Desk
Corrections & Updates Desk
Reader Clarity Review

Role & scope

Advises on standards, corrections readiness, and dossier structure discipline.
Supports training for editors on consistency and clarity.

Expertise

Editorial standards
Corrections workflows
Long-form structure
Definition discipline
Contradiction checks
Reader comprehension passes

Relevant experience (highlights)

Designed editing standards for multi-outlet publishing
Built correction notes that state what changed and why
Supported teams on high-volume, high-scrutiny investigations

Independence & disclosures

Current affiliations: Independent editorial standards advisor
Consulting clients: Not listed publicly; disclosed internally when required
Material conflicts: Recusal when prior work creates a bias risk

Contact channel (controlled): advisors@HansajEkalavya.com

Rich Meservey

Advisor — Financial Crime, Corporate Records & Follow-the-Money

Region: Global

Shell firms Contracts Beneficial owners Fraud patterns

Rich helps teams trace money trails without jumping to conclusions. He is careful about what a record truly proves and what it does not.

Bio

Works on corporate records and financial pattern checks
Helps researchers avoid false links and weak assumptions
Strong at making money stories understandable

Focus

Entity mapping and ownership trails
Contract and vendor scrutiny basics
Separating legal structure from real control

Beats

Public procurement and tender abuse
Corporate misconduct and hidden relationships
Financial scandals with layered intermediaries

Capabilities

Entity charts with evidence links per node
Record interpretation rules for reporters
Money-flow summaries that stay factual

Responsibilities

For Ekalavya Hansaj, he reviews money sections so “linked” never replaces “proven.”
He helps teams show the chain from document to conclusion in a reader-friendly way.
He flags when a record can be read two ways and forces a safer claim.

Career Summary

Supported investigations that depend on corporate and financial records
Built entity mapping routines used across teams
Known for hard-nosed skepticism around money claims

Credibility Markers

Asks for primary records before narratives
Pushes for clean definitions of “ownership” and “control”
Focuses on what the document actually says

Departments

Financial Crime Desk
Corporate Records Support
Entity Mapping Review

Role & scope

Advises on follow-the-money methods and corporate record interpretation.
Supports training for researchers on entity mapping.

Expertise

Entity mapping
Corporate registry research
Procurement basics
Beneficial ownership reasoning
Fraud pattern recognition
Evidence-linked charts

Relevant experience (highlights)

Reviewed money claims in long-form investigative drafts
Helped teams map ownership structures with supporting records
Built reader-friendly “how the money moved” summaries

Independence & disclosures

Current affiliations: Independent advisor
Consulting clients: Not public; disclosed internally when relevant
Material conflicts: Steps aside if prior work overlaps a subject

Contact channel (controlled): advisors@HansajEkalavya.com

Capucine Landry

Advisor — Language Integrity & Translation Review

Region: Global

Translation Meaning Quotes Context

Capucine helps make sure we do not twist meaning when we translate or summarize. She protects quotes, tone, and intent across languages.

Bio

Works on translation checks for high-stakes statements
Focuses on meaning, not word-for-word copying
Flags cultural or legal phrasing traps in translation

Focus

Quote accuracy across languages
Definitions that change meaning by region
Preventing over-strong summaries

Beats

Cross-border investigations
Documents and statements in multiple languages
Legal and policy language translation

Capabilities

Translation integrity checklists
Double-check routines for key quotes
Meaning-first summaries that stay fair

Responsibilities

At Ekalavya Hansaj, she reviews translated quotes so our strongest lines cannot be attacked as mistranslated.
She forces teams to keep the original wording saved beside every translated extract.
She checks that summaries stay faithful when the source text is unclear.

Career Summary

Supported multilingual research and cross-border publishing
Built repeatable translation checks for critical quotes
Known for catching subtle meaning shifts early

Credibility Markers

Saves originals, not just translations
Prefers cautious summaries when a phrase is ambiguous
Pushes teams to show readers the source context

Departments

Language Integrity Desk
Translation Review Desk
Quote Accuracy Support

Role & scope

Advises on translation integrity, quote handling, and language risk in dossiers.
Supports teams on cross-language verification routines.

Expertise

Translation checks
Quote handling
Definition discipline
Meaning-first summaries
Context preservation
Ambiguity flags

Relevant experience (highlights)

Reviewed translated segments in long-form investigations
Set “original-plus-translation” evidence rules for quotes
Helped teams avoid over-strong paraphrasing

Independence & disclosures

Current affiliations: Independent language integrity advisor
Consulting clients: Not listed publicly; disclosed internally if needed
Material conflicts: Recusal for matters tied to prior translation work

Contact channel (controlled): advisors@HansajEkalavya.com

Craig Forero

Advisor — Forensics, Documents & Authenticity Checks

Region: Global

Docs Metadata Authenticity Evidence

Craig helps teams tell real documents from edited ones. He teaches simple checks that catch fakes before they get into a dossier.

Bio

Forensics-minded reviewer for high-stakes documents
Focuses on authenticity checks and file history
Helps teams record what they verified and how

Focus

Document authenticity basics
Metadata sanity checks
Chain-of-custody notes for key exhibits

Beats

Leak-driven investigations
Claims relying on documents as primary proof
Cases where fakes are used to distract

Capabilities

Exhibit handling rules for teams
Authenticity checklists that fit deadlines
Evidence notes written for non-specialists

Responsibilities

For Ekalavya Hansaj, he reviews high-impact documents so we do not publish a trap.
He sets rules for preserving originals and logging every copy made.
He helps teams explain authenticity checks in reader-friendly words.

Career Summary

Supported investigations that depend on document exhibits
Built authenticity check routines for shared evidence pools
Known for catching inconsistencies in “too perfect” files

Credibility Markers

Prefers “verify twice” when stakes are high
Writes checks in plain language for busy editors
Records steps so later review is straightforward

Departments

Forensics Review Desk
Evidence Register Support
Exhibit Handling

Role & scope

Advises on document authenticity checks and evidence handling notes.
Supports training for teams working with leaked files.

Expertise

Authenticity checks
Metadata review basics
File handling discipline
Exhibit logs
Evidence preservation
Reader-facing proof notes

Relevant experience (highlights)

Reviewed document exhibits for high-risk investigations
Built checklists for teams handling leak material
Helped teams explain authenticity checks without jargon

Independence & disclosures

Current affiliations: Independent forensic workflow advisor
Consulting clients: Not listed publicly; disclosed internally where required
Material conflicts: Recusal when prior work touches the same evidence set

Contact channel (controlled): advisors@HansajEkalavya.com

Ana Auffrey

Advisor — Science, Health Claims & Evidence Quality

Region: Global

Health claims Studies Misinfo risk Clarity

Ana helps keep science and health claims tight. She checks if a claim is supported, and she forces plain explanations that readers can follow.

Bio

Works on evidence quality for science and health topics
Helps writers avoid panic language and false certainty
Prefers clear summaries with stated limits

Focus

Study interpretation basics for journalists
Separating correlation from causation
Reducing harm from misleading health advice

Beats

Health policy and public safety claims
Medical misconduct and fake products
Science claims used in political fights

Capabilities

Evidence grading for studies and expert claims
Risk notes for health advice sections
Reader-friendly “what we know” summaries

Responsibilities

At Ekalavya Hansaj, she checks medical claims so readers are not misled by strong wording.
She forces teams to state limits: what a study shows and what it cannot show.
She flags health sections that could cause real harm if misunderstood.

Career Summary

Supported reporting on science, health, and public safety topics
Built basic study-reading guides for non-specialists
Known for forcing clarity without softening facts

Credibility Markers

Always asks “What is the source of this claim?”
Names uncertainty instead of hiding it
Refuses miracle language

Departments

Science & Health Review Desk
Evidence Quality Checks
Harm Prevention Support

Role & scope

Advises on science and health claims, evidence grading, and reader-safe wording.
Supports training for teams writing health-related dossier sections.

Expertise

Study interpretation basics
Claim limits and uncertainty
Risk wording for health topics
Evidence grading
Misleading-claim prevention
Reader clarity checks

Relevant experience (highlights)

Reviewed health claim sections for clarity and safety
Helped teams avoid false certainty in science writing
Built checklists for reading studies quickly under deadline

Independence & disclosures

Current affiliations: Independent advisor
Consulting clients: Not listed publicly; disclosed internally if needed
Material conflicts: Recusal where prior work could bias review

Contact channel (controlled): advisors@HansajEkalavya.com

Alison Orendain

Advisor — Regional Context & Post-Publication Review

Region: Global

Context Local risk After publish Corrections loop

Alison helps keep our work grounded when we cover places and systems that outsiders misunderstand. She also helps after publication when facts get challenged.

Bio

Context-first reviewer for cross-region investigations
Helps writers avoid wrong assumptions
Supports follow-up checks after release

Focus

Regional context and terminology
Risk signals that change by location
Post-publication review routines

Beats

Cross-border corruption and policy stories
Investigations involving local institutions
Reports where translation and context can mislead

Capabilities

Context checklists for editors
Terminology sanity checks
Challenge-response notes after publication

Responsibilities

For Ekalavya Hansaj, she adds context checks so we do not accuse the wrong structure or the wrong person.
She runs the after-publish review loop when readers or subjects dispute a detail.
She helps editors decide if a correction is needed and how to explain it clearly.

Career Summary

Supported complex investigations across regions and systems
Built context review routines for teams writing outside their home area
Known for calm, fair post-publication review work

Credibility Markers

Asks “How does this system work here?” before judging it
Prefers documented corrections over quiet edits
Protects readers from confusion by naming changes plainly

Departments

Regional Context Desk
Post-Publication Review
Corrections Coordination

Role & scope

Advises on regional context checks and structured post-publication review.
Supports corrections wording and reader-facing clarity.

Expertise

Context verification
Terminology checks
Challenge-response workflow
Corrections handling
Reader clarity
Post-publication review notes

Relevant experience (highlights)

Reviewed cross-region investigations for wrong assumptions
Supported correction workflows with clear public notes
Helped teams respond to disputes using logs and evidence

Independence & disclosures

Current affiliations: Independent advisor
Consulting clients: Not public; disclosed internally if needed
Material conflicts: Recusal for prior ties to disputed parties

Contact channel (controlled): advisors@HansajEkalavya.com