Published Mar 25, 2026 | 10:25 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 25, 2026 | 11:06 AM
Bose Krishnamachari.
Synopsis: Renowned artist Bose Krishnamachari stepped down from his roles as president of the Kochi Biennale Foundation and a member of its Board of Trustees following a sexual harassment complaint. The complaint was filed in December last year under the PoSH Act, and an inquiry was initiated by the foundation’s Internal Complaints Committee.
Renowned artist and Kochi-Muziris Biennale co-founder Bose Krishnamachari stepped down from his roles as president of the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) and a member of its Board of Trustees in January, following a sexual harassment complaint, sources said on Wednesday, 25 March.
The complaint was filed in December last year under the PoSH Act (Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013), and an inquiry was initiated by the foundation’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC).
Biennale authorities confirmed the development to South First, adding that a copy of the complaint had been leaked and was circulating on social media.
It is not yet clear whether the ICC has completed its inquiry or if further action will follow. The Kochi Biennale Foundation has not released a detailed public statement on the complaint or any findings so far.
According to sources, the complainant identified Krishnamachari as her supervisor at the Biennale and alleged that he had asked her to come to his apartment in Kochi, where he made sexually coloured remarks and attempted physical advances.
This allegation, widely regarded by sources close to Krishnamachari as a canard, has been circulating for some time, primarily through select social media handles.
“Although such claims surfaced on the day of his resignation, they were never confirmed by officials of the Kochi Biennale Foundation. The issue has resurfaced abruptly only after his appointment as Cultural Curator of Kochi, alongside ongoing discussions around a new art venture in Chennai,” a source noted.
A copy of a purported complaint — said to have been submitted in December under the provisions of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act — has been circulating on social media. However, according to media reports, the individual named as the complainant has denied filing any such complaint. Furthermore, at the time of Bose’s resignation, the foundation did not raise or acknowledge any related concerns.
The reemergence of these allegations, the source suggested, points to possible vested interests at play.
While Krishnamachari denied the allegations, KBF authorities said he stepped down, anticipating possible action, adding that the PoSH Act itself mandates the exit of the accused from the organisation.
Fort Kochi Circle Inspector (CI) Ratheesh told South First that the police have not received any complaint from either the Biennale authorities or the complainant and that no enquiry is currently underway against Krishnamachari.
According to the circulating copy of the complaint, the alleged incident took place at Bay View Apartment in Fort Kochi.
Police officials also said that such complaints are typically forwarded to them by the ICC, but in this case, no such communication has been received.
Responding to the allegations, Krishnamachari maintained that they were misleading, unsubstantiated and taken out of context. He said he was aware of how the claims were being circulated and had instructed his lawyers to initiate both civil and criminal legal proceedings in Mumbai, which are expected to be filed in the coming days.
He said the references to allegations are misleading, unverified, and taken out of context.
“At the outset, I wish to reiterate that my decision to step down from my position as President of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale and from the Board of Trustees was taken independently and for personal reasons, as formally stated at the time of my resignation. 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,” he said.
“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. Such actions are malicious and legally actionable. I have already initiated appropriate legal proceedings against those responsible for creating and disseminating such false and defamatory material.
“I urge members of the public, media, and the art community to exercise due diligence and refrain from sharing or relying on unverified information.
I remain committed to the values of integrity, transparency, and the continued growth of the arts ecosystem that I have been privileged to help build over the years,” he added.
Krishnamachari, a key figure in India’s contemporary art landscape, was instrumental in founding the Kochi-Muziris Biennale and co-curated its first edition in 2012, helping establish Kochi as a major international art destination.
The sixth edition of the Biennale, which opened on 12 December 2025, is currently in progress and will conclude on 31 March.
Earlier this month, he was appointed as the Cultural Curator of Kochi. The appointment was made by the Kochi Municipal Corporation as part of efforts to strengthen the city’s cultural vision and public art initiatives.
This is not the first such instance linked to the Biennale. In 2020, prominent artist and co-founder Riyas Komu stepped down from all his management roles associated with the Biennale after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against him during the #MeToo movement.
The accusations were made by a fellow artist who publicly shared her experience. In response, Komu resigned from his positions in the KBF.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman.)
