Renowned economist G Thimmaiah on Sunday claimed that he had not been removed as chairman of the Institute for Social and Economic Changes (ISEC).

Prof Thimmaiah, in a written statement, said the media reports that the ISEC Board of Governors (BoG) had removed him as chairman and replaced him with retired IAS officer A Ravindra were “far from true.”

He said that “one or all of the eight members of the ISEC Board, some of whom have committed financial and academic irregularities, have given illegitimate information” to the media.

“These defrauders want to escape from prosecution and hence want to remove me from the chairmanship. They came to the meeting and tried to forcibly introduce (a) no-confidence motion. Since it was illegal as indicated by legal opinion and also by the opinion of the Registrar of Societies, I adjourned the meeting and decided to initiate necessary action to get the new board elected by November 2015 so that the academic interests of the institute are protected and fostered.

After the meeting was adjourned, they sat there and formulated their own resolution and press statement. By doing so, they have committed contempt of court for which I am approaching the court. Also, they have not allowed the meeting to hold which will delay in submission of annual reports to Parliament,” Prof Thimmaiah said.

According to sources in the ISEC, the BoG had become defunct as Prof Thimmaiah had brought an injunction order not to hold any meeting. When the BoG sought to convene a meeting, Prof Thimmaiah had moved an application before a lower court and got an injunction on eight board members, including former IAS officers Ravindra and S S Meenakshisundaram, restraining them from compelling the chairman to hold the meeting.

Sources also said that though the injunction suit was posted for final orders on August 18, Prof Thimmaiah had to submit before the court to call for the board meeting on August 1, as per the byelaws. Out of 12 members who attended the meeting on Saturday, eight agreed on the resolution and signed while four members, including Prof Thimmaiah, did not sign.

In pursuance of the resolution, the BoG elected Dr Ravindra as new chairman for the remaining period, which will end in December 2015. Dr Ravindra immediately took charge and continued the proceedings of the meeting. The next board meeting will be held on August 17, the sources said.