The Kerala High Court has sought the view of the state government regarding the Vigilance probe into the alleged misappropriation of government funds by the Kochi Biennale Foundation. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice C K Vinod Chandran issued the directive while considering a petition filed by G Ajith Kumar, secretary, Lantern Fine Arts, challenging the conduct of the Kochi Biennale. In the petition, he also sought a directive to expedite the Vigilance probe. The petitioner also challenged the government’s move to provide additional financial assistance to the Biennale Foundation. The state had initially handed over `5 crore to the festival. It said that the government has so far not expedited the Vigilance probe as recommended by the inspection wing of the Finance Department.
The idea of the biennale was mooted by two artists from Kerala - Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu - with the goal to start an international platform for contemporary art in India, the petitioner pointed out. The Biennale Foundation was registered under the Indian Trust Act, 1882.
This was done just before the proposal for the biennale was submitted. There was no Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the government and the Kochi Biennale Foundation, he alleged in his petition.
“By utilising the government fund, the trustees were in fact keen to expand their own personal activities, but no measures were initiated to chalk out any programme aiming at the enrichment of the art scene in Kerala,” the petition stated.
Based on the recommendation by the inspection wing of the Finance Department, the government ordered a Vigilance inquiry on November 28 last year. It was also decided to withdraw government nominees from the foundation.
“While sanctioning `5 crore, the government had directed to constitute a high-level advisory committee comprising eminent personalities from art, culture and tourism, but it was rejected by the foundation,” the petition said.
The petitioner further sought the directive to restrain the state from providing additional financial assistance to the Biennale Foundation.