Mysore/Mysuru: Alleging that Mysuru Scouts and Guides had become a monopoly of the few, Karnataka Bharat Scouts and Guides Life Member B.R. Anil Kumar has accused some top leaders of the organization of indulging in irregularities.

Addressing a press meet at Pathrakartara Bhavan on Monday, Anil Kumar said that the landed properties of the District Unit of Bharat Scouts and Guides, located near the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, is being rented out for Melas and other programmes. But the District Unit has not bothered to inform the State Unit of the revenues being earned, he alleged.

Accusing the District Scouts and Guides Commissioner P. Vishwanath, District Treasurer Dr. Gurumurthy and District Secretary Jameel of forming a Trust and running a school (Baden Powell School) without seeking permission of the State Unit, he alleged that the trio were not giving any account of revenue earnings to the State Unit.

Bemoaning that the State Unit had remained a silent spectator to the non-transparent acts of the District Unit, Anil Kumar claimed that the District Unit is fighting a civil suit against University of Mysore regarding ownership of  the land near the DC’s Office. But the State Unit has not bothered to interfere in this civil case, with the District Unit alone handling the case, which has given rise to suspicions, he said.

Claiming that although he is a KPCC spokesperson, he is speaking as a concerned member of Bharat Scouts and Guides, Anil Kumar contended that the District Unit office-bearers have made the Deputy Commissioner as the head of the District Unit only to save themselves, although it is not mandatory to make DC as the head of the District Unit. 

He also charged the State Unit President P.G.R. Sindhia, a former Minister, of being a silent spectator to all the wrongdoings of the District Unit.

District Commissioner Vishwanath rubbishes Anil Kumar’s claims

Rebutting the charges made by Anil Kumar, Bharat Scouts and Guides Mysuru District Commissioner P. Vishwanath, also a former city Mayor, said that the charges were totally false.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Vishwanath said that transparency was being maintained in the functioning of the District Unit and there was no truth in the charges levelled by Anil Kumar. Pointing out that the District Unit was filing Income Tax Returns in an appropriate manner, he said that the District Unit was functioning in accordance with the directions of the State Unit.

Asserting that Bharat Scouts and Guides Mysuru District Trust has been formed under instructions from the State Unit, he said that the Trust has been formed only after the State Unit gave blanket permission to all the District Units to form Trusts for safeguarding their properties.

Noting that the office-bearers of the District Unit will automatically become the Trustees of the Trust, Vishwanath clarified that the office-bearers will stand to lose their Trusteeship once they give up or are relieved of their position.