ISKCON Bangalore files Defamation Suit against DK Shivakumar

BY: STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Jun 09, 2010 — BANGALORE, INDIA (MANGALOREAN) — The Governing council of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has filed a defamation case against the Congress Party working president D.K. Shivakumar, his follower Hanumantharayappa and two journalists, Gowri Lankesh and Somnath, before the City Civil Court claiming Rs 1.8 crore compensation for tarnishing the image of ISKCON Bangalore by making false allegations.

DKS had staged a protest in front of Akshayapatra Foundation Rice Godown on October 16, 2009 with hundreds of his party workers and had alleged that ISKCON had hoarded 4,000 quintal of rice released by the government and had sold in black market for Rs 1,500 per quintal. He had urged the government to arrest the ISKCON President Madhu Pandit dasa and Vice-President Chanchalapathi dasa. He had termed the ISKCON as "Akki Kallaru" (rice thieves) and had referred to the Akshayapatra scheme as Bhikshapatra.

The Food and Civil Supplies Department had sealed the ISKCON godown based on D.K. Shivakumar's complaint. The Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Urban, held an inquiry and found the allegations as baseless. He gave a clean chit to the ISKCON in February 2010.

"The ISKCON did not think of taking any legal action against DKS as we have high regards for the principles of privilege he enjoys as legislator as well as the member of the House Committee. However, he claimed the House Committee found his allegations to be true while talking to a television channel on June 7, even when we have not even deposed before the House Committee. Hence, we decided to pursue legal action against him", Chanchalapathi dasa said.

ISKCON has also decided to file a criminal complaint against him for trespassing and damaging trust property. He had trespassed into the warehouse compound, broke open rice bags, broke window panes and taken the rice outside the warehouse on October 16, 2009.