Bose Krishnamachari give up Kochi Biennale following sexual allegation, says basis

Artist-curator Bose Krishnamachari resigned from the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) in reference to a sexual harassment criticism, it has emerged. V. Venu, chairperson of KBF, has confirmed that the muse had acquired a criticism towards Mr. Krishnamachari from a lady who had labored underneath him.

“Mr. Krishnamachari’s resignation was connected with the complaint and the KBF’s Internal Committee formed under the Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 is taking action on the complaint,” Mr. Venu advised The Hindu on Wednesday (March 25, 2026). Mr. Venu stated, nonetheless, there was no police criticism referring to the incident but.

Mr. Krishnamachari, in the meantime, refuted the allegations, terming them “misleading, unverified, and taken out of context”. “I categorically deny any insinuations or attempts to link my resignation to unsubstantiated allegations. To the best of my knowledge, there is no complaint pending or existing against me before any competent authority or forum in this regard. It has also come to my attention that fabricated or altered emails and messages, purportedly carrying my name, are being circulated with the clear intention to mislead stakeholders and harm my reputation. I have already initiated appropriate legal proceedings against those responsible for creating and disseminating such false and defamatory material,” he stated in a press release on Tuesday.

Mr. Krishnamachari, who was a co-founder of the Kochi Muziris Biennale, and president of KBF and member of the Board of Trustees of KBF, resigned from the posts in January, citing “pressing family reasons”. His resolution to step down from the organisation amid the continuing version of the Biennale had prompted shock among the many creative circles and triggered speculations.

Mr. Krishnamachari was lately appointed the cultural curator of the Kochi metropolis as a part of a challenge initiated by the Kochi Municipal Corporation. Responding to the newest experiences, Mayor V.Ok. Minimol stated the Corporation doesn’t want to make a knee-jerk response and would slightly wait to confirm the veracity of the allegation.

Mr. Krishnamachari served because the co-curator of the maiden version of the biennale, together with artist Riyas Komu, in 2012. In 2018, Mr. Komu needed to resign from all administration positions linked with the biennale following allegations of sexual misconduct.