Mysuru: Following a complaint by writer Bannur K. Raju, alleging large scale irregularities in Mysuru District Kannada Sahitya Parishat, the Under- Secretary (Administration) to the Chief Minister has directed the Kannada and Culture Department to verify the allegations and take further action, it is learnt.

Bannur Raju, in his complaint, had accused the District Kannada Sahitya Parishat of rampant corruption and misuse of Government funds. Following the allegations, the Kannada Sahitya Parishat at Bengaluru too has written to its District Unit seeking a reply to the charges.

This has caused a huge embarrassment to the District Kannada Sahitya Parishat at a time when it is hosting the 83rd Akhila Bharath Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in city.

Bannur Raju had alleged that Mysuru District Kannada Sahitya Parishat was controlled by a group of corrupt people and there was no account of the revenues generated from Sahitya Bhavan in Vijayanagar.

Accusing the current District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Dr. Y.D. Rajanna, a veterinary doctor serving in the Animal Husbandry Department of the State Government, of ignoring his duties as a Government servant, Bannur Raju questioned the propriety of Dr. Rajanna working wholetime for Sahitya Parishat.

Accusing former District  Kannada Sahitya Parishat Presidents Maddikere Gopal and M. Chandrashekar too of misusing the Parishat’s funds to the tune of lakhs of rupees, he alleged that the two, although being former Presidents, were still working behind the scene committing irregularities.

Meanwhile, questions are being raised in literary circles, on why the 83rd Akhila Bharath Kannada Sahitya Sammelana is being held within 6 months of the last meet held in Mysuru.

Writers have expressed their reservation on the success of the meet in the absence of adequate preparations.

They also question whether the holding of the meet itself was appropriate at a time when the State is reeling under the worst drought in over 4 decades and in the backdrop of a distressful agricultural scenario and other issues haunting the State.