Notice to leader for wearing garland of peacock feathers in Mandya district

MANDYA: The officials of the forest department have issued a notice to Sarvodaya Karnataka Party leader Darshan Puttannaiah, who has launched a campaign in Melukote assembly constituency in Mandya district, after he was spotted wearing a garland made of peacock feathers.
Darshan, a software engineer who has worked in the US, has embarked on a padayatra during which his followers welcomed him with garland made of peacock feathers, that has landed him in trouble. The photo has gone viral in social media and led to the row.
Ahead of the announcement of the poll calendar, Darshan started a padayatra ‘Janamana Darshana’ from February 25 from H Malligere village in Mandya taluk. Darshan’s followers welcomed him by garlanding him with peacock feathers when his padayatra reached Visvesvaraya Nagar in Pandavapura town on March 12.
He is accused of violating the Wildlife Protection Act by wearing the garland made of feathers of the national bird. The forest department issued a notice and asked him to submit the garland for inspection.
According to the information received through the media, a notice has been issued to Darshan. The matter is being investigated by officials, Mandya DCF Ruthran said.
Darshan’s election team said they have received the notice from forest authorities. We will answer them through our lawyer, a team member said. Darshan was not available for comment.