Artist’s family raises objection to ‘fake’ painting of Anubhava Mantapa in Suvarna Vidhana Soudha

KALABURAGI: Amid the Panchamasali protest for reservation, the Belagavi winter session of the legislature has been drawn into another controversy with an alleged plagiarised painting of the Anubhava Mantapa being installed inside the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.

The original painting was drawn by Nadoja awardee Dr J S Khanderao of Kalaburagi. Now, his family members and fans have raised objection to the alleged fake painting being installed in the House.

Basavaraj Khanderao and Mohan Sethnur.

J S Khanderao’s son Basavaraj Khanderao said, “My father was a well-known painter in the state and the country. Now, a duplicate painting of the Anubhava Mantapa has been installed in the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, which is regrettable. The Karnataka government had recognised J S Khanderao’s works and appointed him the chairman of the Lalitha Kala Academy. He was also presented the Varnashilpi Venkatappa award among several other awards. We condemn this and the fake painting should be taken down”.

“Making a fake of the Anubhava Mantapa painting is theft of intellectual property and plagiarism. This should not be installed in the legislature”, said Mohan Sethnur, an artist.