Photo via The Sydney Morning Herald

ICAC Operation Rosny LIVE updates: Former Toplace lawyer, Strathfield Labor councillor Sharangan Maheswaran to resume evidence

Read the original at The Sydney Morning Herald ↗
Cite

Smith, A. (2026, September 21). ICAC Operation Rosny LIVE updates: Former Toplace lawyer, Strathfield Labor councillor Sharangan Maheswaran to resume evidence. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/icac-operation-rosny-live-updates-former-toplace-lawyer-strathfield-labor-councillor-sharangan-maheswaran-to-resume-evidence-20260921-p60yvr.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

The Sydney Morning Herald · collected 2026-09-21 · by Alexandra Smith

Quick Summary

Sharangan Maheswaran, a former lawyer and executive for Sydney property developer Jean Nassif, is under scrutiny by the ICAC over allegations he lied about handing a $148,500 cheque to Charles Perrottet, brother of former New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet. The ICAC investigation centers on whether Maheswaran was involved in delivering this cheque at the Longueville Hotel as part of purported political assistance for upcoming preselections in January 2021.
Written by AI on 2026-09-21, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Sharangan Maheswaran, a former lawyer and executive at Toplace who is also a former Labor councillor in Strathfield, appeared for a second day before the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Operation Rosny. The ICAC is investigating allegations involving a $148,500 cheque that Maheswaran allegedly handed to Charles Perrottet, brother of former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, at the Longueville Hotel in January 2021. This cheque was meant as "assistance" for upcoming Liberal Party preselections, according to a text sent by Perrottet to Jean Nassif, a disgraced Sydney property developer. During questioning, Maheswaran denied any involvement in delivering this cheque, leading Dr Peggy Dwyer, the lead counsel assisting ICAC, to accuse him of lying about his actions, stating it would look "pretty bad" for a Labor Party member to be involved in such an act.

Written for “ICAC Corruption Inquiry” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 ICAC Corruption Inquiry
Politics · 2 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
‘Didn’t seem upset’: ICAC told former Strathfield mayor was not bothered by dirt sheet Different event
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 4 of 23 claims Outlet record 61/100
“The articles describe different aspects of the ICAC investigation involving Sharangan Maheswaran, one about a flyer incident and another about a cheque related to political donation allegations.”
Operation Rosny LIVE updates: Strathfield real estate agent Mohammad Abedin used ChatGPT to write ICAC statement Different event
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Hedges 0 of 10 claims Outlet record 61/100
“The articles describe different days of hearings and involve different individuals: Mohammad Abedin in Article A and Sharangan Maheswaran in Article B.”
‘Sleepwalking into defeat’: Liberal MPs’ lacklustre fundraising efforts spark election fears Different event
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Hedges 6 of 35 claims Outlet record 61/100
“The articles discuss different events involving distinct political figures and institutions, one focusing on fundraising efforts of the NSW Liberal Party and the other on legal proceedings related to alleged impropriety at ICAC.”
‘Sleepwalking into defeat’: Liberal MPs’ lacklustre fundraising efforts spark election fears Different event
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 6 of 38 claims Outlet record 61/100
“The articles discuss different events: one about fundraising issues and infighting in the NSW Liberal Party, and the other about a legal proceeding involving Sharangan Maheswaran at ICAC.”
‘Pretty bad look’: Lawyer denies lying to ICAC over $148,500 cheque, Liberal fundraiser Same event
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 2 of 27 claims Outlet record 61/100
Private investigator told police about alleged extortion attempt against Jean Nassif Different event
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Hedges 3 of 24 claims Outlet record 61/100
“The articles describe different aspects of the ICAC investigation involving Jean Nassif but do not clearly report on the same specific incident or time.”
Private investigator surveilled Liberal minister and supplied Jean Nassif with recording devices, Icac hears Different event
The Guardian
Hedges 2 of 34 claims Outlet record 66/100
“The articles describe different aspects of the ICAC investigation involving separate individuals and activities.”
Mookhey referred commissioner claims to ICAC after meeting Labor lawyer Different event
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 4 of 25 claims Outlet record 61/100
“The articles refer to different meetings and interactions involving Sharangan Maheswaran, one concerning handing over a cheque and being grilled by ICAC, the other about referring claims to the ICAC after a meeting with Mookhey.”
When the ICAC’s a-rocking, the jokes come a-knocking Different event
The Sydney Morning Herald
⚖️ Leans left Hedges 6 of 35 claims Outlet record 61/100
“The articles describe different days of the ICAC inquiry with distinct witnesses and accusations, indicating separate but related hearings.”
Strathfield, Singapore or the next stall over? ICAC’s ‘Everywhere Man’ set to testify Different event
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 1 of 37 claims Outlet record 61/100
“Article A discusses Maheswaran's presence and his role in various incidents related to the inquiry, while Article B covers a specific day of testimony where he is grilled about handing over a cheque. They describe different moments within the broader event.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
4
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
0%
0 of 4 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
61/100
The Sydney Morning Herald's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
2
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-21 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

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Running correction rate · 15 correction(s)
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Who wrote this

Alexandra Smith
13 article(s) here · 0 carrying a prediction
🔮 The cash-strapped NSW Liberals are on the hook for at least $2 million in the lead up to the March state election after would-be councillors sued the party for failing to nominate dozens of candidates in the last local government elections.
2026-10-27 · assertive framing · The disastrous administrative blunder that will cost NSW Liberals $2m
🔮 The NSW Labor government will expedite endoscopy procedures after a preliminary audit found at least 20,000 overdue tests in the public health system, which could be delaying cancer diagnoses.
2026-10-24 · assertive framing · NSW Health audit finds 20,000 overdue endoscopy tests after warnings
🔮 The Minns government is refusing to amend laws that would give the state’s police watchdog stronger powers to access crucial NSW Police documents as the independent body investigates a string of high-profile cases, including allegations of improper promotion practices among the state’s most senior officers.
2026-10-04 · assertive framing · The state’s police watchdog wants extra powers. The NSW government has other ideas
🔮 A private investigator invoiced Jean Nassif’s development company $134,000 for surveillance of the former Strathfield mayor, with then-Labor councillor Sharangan Maheswaran convincing Toplace to pay the bill.
2026-09-29 · assertive framing · Nassif’s Toplace paid $134,000 for surveillance of Strathfield mayor
🔮 Detectives will explore whether speed was a factor.
2026-09-26 · assertive framing · ‘Going urgent isn’t worth your life’: Partner’s plea after officer killed in Sydney crash
🔮 Mookhey told Maheswaran he would not raise the concerns about Chandler in budget estimates, and they should instead be reported to the ICAC.
2026-09-25 · assertive framing · Mookhey referred commissioner claims to ICAC after meeting Labor lawyer
🔮 Sharangan Maheswaran, Nassif’s one-time lawyer and a former Labor councillor, offered the payment to lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood if he could convince a reporter to write a damaging story about Elliott having an affair.
2026-09-23 · assertive framing · ‘A thousand bucks for smear story’: Cash offered for negative Elliott coverage
🔮 The investigator said he had a few different listening devices, including devices that look like a pen or a “small square” that resembles a type of tag you would keep on a keychain.
2026-09-22 · assertive framing · Private investigator told police about alleged extortion attempt against Jean Nassif
🔮 The self-described Godfather grabbed the headlines in an action-packed week at the inquiry that began with a blackmail claim aired by a former mayor of Strathfield, took a sharp turn into Nassif’s Lebanese bedroom, then back to Strathfield where a key figure in the inquiry – former councillor Sharangan Maheswaran – made his first appearance.
2026-09-18 · mixed framing · Belligerence, blackmail and a Bangladeshi chatbot: What we learnt from ICAC week eight
🔮 “We have something that will kill Elliott,” Greenwood texted Maheswaran in 2020.
2026-09-18 · assertive framing · Former Labor councillor tasked with helping Jean Nassif with ‘company processes’
Also by Alexandra Smith
The disastrous administrative blunder that will cost NSW Liberals $2m
2026-10-27 · The Sydney Morning Herald
NSW Health audit finds 20,000 overdue endoscopy tests after warnings
2026-10-24 · The Sydney Morning Herald
The state’s police watchdog wants extra powers. The NSW government has other ideas
2026-10-04 · The Sydney Morning Herald
Nassif’s Toplace paid $134,000 for surveillance of Strathfield mayor
2026-09-29 · The Sydney Morning Herald
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 13 articles by Alexandra Smith →

Topics

ICAC Liberal Party NSW Sydney Toplace

Subjects

Charles Perrottet PERSON · 2× ICAC ORG · 2× Maheswaran PERSON · 2× Dominic Perrottet PERSON · 1× Jean Nassif PERSON · 1× Liberal Party ORG · 1× NSW GPE · 1× Sharangan Maheswaran PERSON · 1× Sydney GPE · 1× Toplace ORG · 1×

Narrative

The day kicked has kicked off with lawyer-turned Toplace executive Maheswaran being grilled over whether he was involved in handing over the cheque for $148,500 to Charles Perrottet, a brother of former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-21
2026-09-21 · The Sydney Morning Herald
ICAC Operation Rosny LIVE updates: Former Toplace lawyer, Strathfield Labor councillor Sharangan Maheswaran to resume evidence · assertive framing

Claims (4 extracted, 0 hedged)

Sharangan Maheswaran, who was a former top executive for disgraced Sydney property developer Jean Nassif has been accused of lying over how a large cheque was handed to a Liberal Party operative. asserted
cheque → accuse → operative
The day kicked has kicked off with lawyer-turned Toplace executive Maheswaran being grilled over whether he was involved in handing over the cheque for $148,500 to Charles Perrottet, a brother of former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet. asserted
he → kick → Perrottet
The ICAC has previously heard that Charles Perrottet sent a text to Nassif in January 2021 asking to pick up “assistance” for “upcoming preselections”. asserted
Perrottet → hear → preselections
The ICAC has heard evidence that Maheswaran - a former Labor member of Strathfield Council - potentially gave Perrottet the cheque at the Longueville Hotel. asserted
Maheswaran → hear → Hotel
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