Mysuru: Dismissing corruption and irregularities charges made by writer Bannur K. Raju, Mysuru District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Dr. Y.D. Rajanna and former Presidents Maddikere Gopal and M. Chandrashekar, have warned the writer of legal action if he did not stop making false charges against them and cause damage to the Parishat’s reputation.

In a joint press release, Dr. Y.D. Rajanna, Maddikere Gopal and M. Chandrashekar said that the funds for K.R. Nagar taluk literary meet, which could not be held for some reasons, was utilised for H.D. Kote taluk meet only after obtaining permission from the then Parishat President Pundalika Halambi.  The funds spent for H.D. Kote meet was audited. Writer Bannur Raju, knowing all this fully well, is now making baseless charges, they claimed.

Referring to allegations of misuse of revenue generated from Sahitya Bhavan in Vijayanagar, they said the dispute over the commercial complex in Sahitya Bhavan is now in the Court and as such there is no revenue earned from the buildings.

However, a monthly rent of Rs. 3,800 is collected from the two rooms in the Bhavan, which is used for the maintenance of the Bhavan. If such is the situation, how can there be misuse of lakhs of rupees, they wondered. Referring to the charges against Dr. Rajanna they said that Dr. Rajanna was a veterinary doctor by profession and a                                            writer by passion.

Pointing out that Rajanna has been involved in Kannada literary circles for over 25 years, they said Rajanna has many works to his credit and has been serving the Animal Husbandry Department to the best of his ability.

“Rajanna is a rare personality who has maintained a perfect balance between passion and profession,” they said.

Asserting that Dr. Rajanna has been making preparations for the 83rd Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana to be held in Mysuru, they said Raju, who lost the District Kannada Sahithya Parishat polls, was making baseless charges against them.

Accusing Raju of making baseless charges out of personal animosity, Dr. Rajanna, Maddikere Gopal and Chandrasekhar said a defamation suit will be filed against Bannur K. Raju if he does not stop making false charges and also if he continues to tarnish the image of the Parishat.