Girish Karnad seeks bail in copyright case

Jnanpith awardee and playwright Girish Karnad appeared in the court of the IX Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on Monday and sought anticipatory bail in a criminal case against him for copyright violation. The Magistrate granted his request and the case has now been adjourned to December 10 this year.
Writer Gopala Wajapeyi has filed two cases — one criminal, one civil — against Karnad for using a song that he had penned - Mayaada Manada Bhaara (the weight of the illusionary mind) - in the printed version of his play Nagamandala.Wajapeyi had written this song, along with nine others, for the stage version of the play performed by Sanket and directed by Shankar Nag. Wajapeyi has also sought a compensation of Rs 10 lakh from Karnad and a permanent injunction against the play in the civil case. The court heard this case last week (cross-examination was on September 15) and granted injunction against the publication of the play itself. The next hearing is on September 26.