Chikkmagaluru wheat burial case: Former school principal suspended, two teachers transferred

Chikkamagaluru: A former principal has been suspended and two teachers have been transferred following the discovery of 80 sacks of wheat buried near the Kittur Rani Channamma Residential School at H Rangapura (Doranalu) in Tarikere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district. 

B J Harish had served as the principal at the school from November 7, 2022, to June 23, 2025. It is alleged that the wheat sacks were buried during his tenure.

Preliminary inquiry findings indicate that the wheat was buried without informing higher authorities and without following prescribed procedures.

Based on these findings, he has been suspended from service, according to an order issued by the Executive Director of the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KREIS).

Further, Physical Education instructor B M Ravi has been transferred to Hettur in Sakaleshpur taluk of Hassan district, while Social Science teacher D Lingaraj has been transferred to Tippasandra in Magadi taluk of Bengaluru South district.

Outsourced cook Vishalamma has been relieved from service. She was dismissed on grounds of not following instructions from higher authorities, engaging in groupism, and not reporting to school on time.

The burial of wheat came to light after a complaint was filed by S Shivamurthy, Vice-President of the Dr B R Ambedkar Rakshana Vedike. Based on the complaint, excavation was carried out on April 1 within the school premises, during which around 70 to 80 sacks of wheat were recovered.