Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy issues a Press Statement: Statement follows serious allegations on the conduct of the President

A reader Mr. Palandira Joyappa uploaded a press statement issued by Kodava Sahitya Academy, President and Members, through the comment section on the previous post at – (give link to the comment with the press note here )
The press note is in Kannada and we have translated the same to English. The press note has 3 points mentioned and it reads:

The third general body meeting of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy for the year 2025–26 was held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Academy Office. Under the chairmanship of Ajjinikanda Sri Mahesh Nachaiah, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted by all the members present:

1. The reports published in newspapers regarding the Academy’s programs in the previous financial year, as well as the negative remarks concerning the President, are far from the truth. All members of the Kodava Sahitya Academy are unitedly and sincerely working toward the growth of the Kodava language and culture.
2. No member of the Academy has given any statements or press releases regarding the Academy.
3. The Academy, abiding by government rules and regulations, is committed to designing and implementing programs in the coming days that will promote Kodava culture and bring good recognition to the government. Each member is committed to upholding the reputation of the Academy through their responsibilities and participation in its programs. They have also clarified that the reports published in the Poomale newspaper regarding the Academy are far from the truth. The press release is signed by the President, Ajjinikanda Mahesh Nachaiah and the following members, who participated in the meeting – Putharira Pappu Thimmaiah, Kambeyanda Deena Bojanna,  Mollekuttanda Dinu Bojappa, Paanikuttira K Kuttappa, Nayakanda Baby Chinnappa, Chotteyanda Sanju Kaverappa, Napanda C Ganesh, Ponnira Gagan, and the Registrar of the Academy – Chinnaswamy .

Interestingly, many of the members who signed the press note are the same individuals named in the complaint submitted to the Joint Director against the Academy President in May.

More puzzling still, the third point of the press note claims that “reports published in the Poomale newspaper about the academy are far from the truth.” While we currently have no details about the nature of these reports, it is worth noting that the Poomale Press and the newspaper is owned and published by the Academy’s President himself.

Although the Academy issued a press note, in Pratinidhi newspaper (https://epaper.prathinidhi.net/m/114119/6856ea35d8cc6), a news article published today has raised further serious allegations against the President.

Some of the allegations are:

• In certain official invitations, the President had styled himself as “Thakka” (Chief in Kodava), instead of using the official designation of “President.”

• The President had replaced the official name of “Kodagu District” with “Kodav” in official invitations.

• The President’s son has been reimbursed for travel expenses from the Academy’s accounts.

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