JOIN US A private complaint has been filed in the Lokayukta Court in the city against Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri, former chairperson of Mysore Paper Mills (MPM) Araga Jnanendra and nine others alleging misappropriation of funds.
According to the complaint filed by Shivamurthy, a shareholder of MPM, the factory was running at a loss of Rs 32 crore before Jnanendra took charge as its chairperson. However, the Mills had suffered a loss of Rs 300 crore by the time Jnanendra resigned as its chairperson.
The State government had released Rs 100 crore for development of ‘D’ plant in the factory and Rs 30 crore for the purchase of turbine. The complaint alleges misappropriation of funds in executing these projects.
It is also alleged in the complaint that the governor had directed the Education Department to purchase notebooks from MPM. Accordingly, notebooks worth Rs nine crore were purchased from MPM in 2010.
But, subsequently, notebooks were purchased from a Pune-based private company causing huge loss to the exchequer.
The complaint also names MPM Administrative Board Managing Director P K Garg, previous MDs Anilkumar, Yogendra Kumar, Sudheer Kumar, Assistant Manager (Marketing) Lokesh, retired assistant manager Fataullah, in-charge Assistant Manager (Finance) Vishwanath Mallan, retired officer Tankasale, Assistant Manager (Human Resources) B M Sreenivas as the accused. The complaint has been filed various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act.
Additional District and Sessions Judge has posted the matter to May 6.
Jnanendra, a BJP candidate for Theerthahalli constituency termed the allegations ‘political conspiracy.’
He accused Congress candidate and the sitting MLA Kimmane Ratnakar of trying to defame his reputation by making false allegations.