Action sought against ex-MLC over fake caste certificate

Former vice-president of the KPCC ST cell, S H Subhash, has sought action against former MLC Siddaraju and his family members as their caste certificates have been annulled by the Mysuru Taluk Tahsildar's Court, recently, as they have been proved to be fake.

It has to be mentioned that Tahsildar T Ramesh Babu has annulled the Nayaka caste certificate obtained by former BJP MLC Siddaraju and his family members for availing various government benefits under Scheduled Tribes (ST) quota, in an order passed on March 15. His action follows a complaint by Subhash that Siddaraju had obtained a fake Nayaka caste certificate.

Addressing a press meet, here, on Monday, Subhash said, "Siddaraju, a member of the Gangamatha community, has changed his caste and father's name several times to get fake caste certificates and benefits thereby. For admission to school, his parents had mentioned that they belonged to the Vokkaliga community. Later they have changed to Dasa Vokkaliga community and finally to A K Nayaka community. It is learnt that he has pressured the tahsildar, recently, to issue a fake caste certificate. Now, that his illegal actions have been proved, the BJP should not issue him a ticket to contest in the upcoming Assembly election, either from HD Kote or any other constituency."

According to the official communication from the office of the tahsildar, it is found out that Siddaraju and his family members belong to Parivara caste under Category 1. This has come to the notice of the District SC/ST Verifying Committee after verification of the documents of Siddaraju in his school by the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement.

Thus, the Nayaka caste certificates, issued to Siddaraju and his family members on August 15, 2008, have been annulled. The tahsildar has also directed Siddaraju and his family members to return the original caste certificates to his office.

Subhash said, "A case should be registered against Siddaraju under Prevention of Atrocities Act. The Civil Rights Enforcement Directorate should initiate action against the family of Siddaraju."

He said, even the Valmiki Peetha seer Rajanahalli Swami seems to be in favour of the Besta and Gangamatha community people at the cost of original ST communities. He has been appealing to the Centre to include these communities in the ST list. So, he should step down from the peetha, he added.

S Nagaraju and Jayachandra Stapathi were present.