Sarod artist asked to pay cut for performance?

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A fresh controversy has broken out, leaving the State government embarrassed as it transpired that sarod artist Rajeev Taranath’s daughter received a call from a person claiming to be an official demanding a commission of Rs 3 lakh in exchange for him to be able to perform in the Dasara festivities.

The honorarium fixed for Taranath is said to be Rs 6 lakh. The bribe demand was first reported by the Mysuru-based Kannada daily Andolana and is being discussed widely on social media.

The unknown caller claimed to be a member of the Dasara organising committee and told Taranath’s daughter that the body preferred outstation artists and if he wanted to retain his slot and the honorarium with it, he should fork over Rs 3 lakh.

Upon learning of the controversy, Minister for Social Welfare and District InCharge Minister HC Mahadaveppa ordered the district administration to conduct a probe. Mysuru Deputy Commissioner Rajendra KV had ordered an internal probe into the matter.

Mysuru district Zilla Panchayat CEO Gayatri said that the investigation was in the process of tracking the mobile phone number. She added that they were mooting filing a case against an unknown person.

The artist is likely to perform on October 21. Music director Hamsalekha inaugurated the Dasara festivities in Mysuru on October 15 in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Cabinet colleagues. Taranath, however, denied that it was an official who demanded the bribe.