A caste killing of an upper caste girl, Paro and her lower caste lover, Jano actsd s a catalyst in achain of events exposing the controversial world of media and governance. News of the caste killing is broken by veteran journalist Dalip Jha in the Kolkata-based daily The Morning Chronicle. Media baron Vikram Aggarwal, owner of the influential Delhi-based English newspaper, The Indian Sentinel, hijacks his story, and uses it to overthrow the coalition Janata Dal government. The chilling climax adds a twist to the tale, providing a pretext for Vikram Aggarwal to install his uncle as prime minister. Set in the late 1990s, Hacks and Headlines weaves several strands of different stories, providing a tantalizing insight into the intrigues, jealousies and pettiness that engulf the world of con men, politicians and journalists who make and break relationships with consummate ease.