Mysuru: A Single-Judge Bench of the Karnataka High Court, presided by Justice A.V. Chandrashekara has asked the Lokayukta Police not to arrest well-known artist Ganjifa Raghupathi Bhat over the gold-leafing controversy pertaining to Mysore Palace for now.

Justice Chandrashekara, in his direction to Lokayukta maintained, “The Lokayukta Police have to notify the petitioner if any adverse report is received against him from the National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property, Lucknow.”

“In such an event, the petitioner has to approach this Court or the concerned Court at Mysuru seeking anticipatory bail without any delay. Till a decision is taken on the bail application by this Court (High Court) or the concerned Court at Mysuru, the petitioner shall not be arrested,” Justice Chandrashekara observed in his order.

The Judge also asked the artist to co-operate with the Investigating Officer (IO) in further probe into the matter.

Earlier, Lokayukta police had filed an FIR against Mysore Palace Board Deputy Director T S Subramanya, Ganjifa artist Raghupathi Bhat and eight others in connection with the alleged sub-standard gold leafing work at the Mysore Palace costing 3.65 crore.

The FIR was filed based on a recent report by National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC) which found faults in the restoration works. Stating that the restoration works is full of technical defects and was carried out without proper specifications, it had highlighted the need for an in-depth investigation.

Earlier Reports: