Bhavana to move court against razing auditorium

Actor-turned-politician Bhavana Ramanna on Saturday said that she will move court against the demolition of the open-air auditorium in the Government Arts College campus.

The construction of the controversial auditorium was carried out by Bhavana’s art foundation, Hoovu. As per the orders of the state government, the college authorities have started demolishing the structure.

The move has drawn flak from students for taking away their only place for recreation.

“The college authorities have not brought this to my notice. They did not show any government order for the demolition of the structure. I have already filed an FIR against the college principal, and other faculties. Now, I will move court against this injustice,” Bhavana Ramanna told DH. The construction of the auditorium was nearing completion in August 2018. The work was stopped following protests from college students. Both Bhavana and the Department of Collegiate Education (DCE) had lodged police complaints against each other. Higher Education minister, G T Deve Gowda, had also ordered for an inquiry.

Though Bhavana had claimed that she had permission from the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Kannada and Culture department had released the funds, the DCE had not found any documents substantiating her claim.

Former director of the Kannada and Culture department, Vishu Kumar, had denied giving permission for the construction of the auditorium and had said the funds were released for the cultural program only.

However, Bhavana, still claims otherwise: “I have received an audit notice from the Kannada and Culture department. The department has released Rs 60 lakh, of which, I have spent Rs 28 lakh for the project until it was stalled. Rs 32 lakh is still remaining in my account.

“If the department claims the amount was not released for the construction, then why should I be receiving the notice, and what reply should I give now. So, this shows how the government is playing with public money.”

On the other hand, Malleshwarappa, principal of the college and the DCE director, clarified saying there is an order to demolish the complete structure.

“The project went ahead without the department in the know,” he said