Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru (SP)

Mysuru, Mar 24: A man who served as teacher for 24 years by impersonating as his own deceased elder brother, is now facing legal action. Laxmane Gowda, younger brother of Lokesh Gowda, had served as teacher in the government higher primary schools at various places including Kattemalalavadi village in Hunsur taluk for 24 years by posing himself as Lokesh Gowda, his elder brother. The case has now come to light, and Laxmane Gowda has been remanded to judicial custody by the court.

Laxmane Gowda's family lives in Hebbalu village in K R Nagar taluk. His elder brother, Lokesh Gowda, was selected for the post of government school teacher in 1994-95. But before joining for duty, he died. Laxmane Gowda, armed with the appointment letter of the education department, began to serve the school in Muddanahalli village, Periyapatna taluk, by posing himself as Lokesh Gowda. In the later years, he worked in several schools without getting noticed. A journalist from Hunsur, Intech Raju, got this information after which he hit the trail of the information and got to the root. He complained to the deputy director of public instruction about this impersonation.

After the accused failed to produce proper and official documents in the case, and finding that the suspicions expressed by the complainant appeared to be genuine, a complaint was registered in Periyapatna police station. Laxmane Gowda was taken into custody by the police and he has been remanded to judicial custody, said block education office, S P Nagaraj.

There was a delay on the part of officials to register the case. The Lokayukta was also involved with the probe. After finding that the family tree provided by Laxmane Gowda did not bear his own name, the family tree was annulled.