In what could be a setback to Mumbai ISKCON's legal fight with Bangalore ISKCON over ownership, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) in its recent report observed that Mumbai ISKCON has misused and misinterpreted the audit reports of BangaloreISKCON, while presenting them to ICAI.

In a press meet on Tuesday, Bangalore ISKCONpresident Madhu Pandita Dasa said that they are filing contempt of court against Doyaram Das and others of Mumbai ISKCON, saying they have mislead the court and other investigating agencies by cooking up documents and forging signatures of the auditor in the balance sheet.

Reading out the ICAI report, Madhu Pandita Dasa said, "It was clear that annual accounts of ISKCON Bangalore audited by them have been misused and misinterpreted for their (Mumbai ISKCON) ongoing legal proceedings. The council, however, noted that nothing has been brought on record to show that the respondent had acted in connivance with ISKCON Bangalore. Accordingly, the council held the respondent (Bangalore ISKCON) not guilty of charges leveled against them," he read out the order.

Recalling how it all started, Madhu Pandita Dasa spoke exclusively to TOI. "Mumbai and some ISKCON heads did not follow rules, prescribed by ISKCON founder AC Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupad. Since 1999, we decided to follow his guidelines while selecting disciples for ISKCON. This irritated others as they could not take anyone of their choice as disciple. Since then, they are trying to vacate us from the office," he said.

"Further, Mumbai ISKCON defines Bangalore ISKCON as their 'Branch'. Ours is independent society and not branch," he added. (Times of India)