Case against Kannada and Culture department head for assaulting Dalit artist

Director of the Department of Kannada and Culture KM Gayathri has been booked under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) following a complaint by a Dalit artist who alleged that he was abused when he sought payment for long-pending dues.

The complaint was filed by 55-year-old Jogila Siddaraju at the SJ Park police station in Bengaluru. Siddaraju alleged that he had visited the office of the director seeking the release of remuneration owed to a group of artists for the past three years. According to his statement, the situation escalated when Gayathri learnt of his caste identity.

When Siddaraju warned Gayathri that he would complain to the higher-ups, she allegedly threw a computer mouse pad at him and snatched the mobile phone of his associate who attempted to record the incident, Siddaraju said in his complaint.

He alleged that the official verbally abused him with casteist remarks, causing him humiliation and distress. The police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) under multiple sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and under BNS provisions related to voluntarily causing hurt and intentional insult aimed at provoking a breach of peace.

Officials said further investigation is underway. Gayathri has not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication.

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