Bose Krishnamachari Resigns Amid Sexual Harassment Complaint

“Mr. Krishnamachari’s resignation was connected with the complaint and the KBF’s Internal Committee is taking action on the complaint,” stated V. Venu, confirming the circumstances surrounding Bose Krishnamachari’s resignation from the Kochi Biennale Foundation.

The resignation comes in the wake of a sexual harassment complaint filed by a woman who had worked under Krishnamachari. The incident allegedly took place on December 28, 2025, and the complaint was formally received on January 3, 2026, by the Internal Complaints Committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

In a statement, Krishnamachari cited family reasons for his departure from the foundation, a significant role he held as a co-founder of the Kochi Muziris Biennale and co-curator of its inaugural edition in 2012. However, he has vehemently refuted the allegations, claiming they are misleading and unsubstantiated.

“The allegations were misleading and unsubstantiated and taken out of context,” Krishnamachari remarked, as he initiated legal action against the complaint.

The unnamed complainant described her experience, stating, “She felt trapped and violated and had at no point given her consent to physical contact or remarks or advances.” This highlights the serious nature of the allegations and the environment in which they occurred.

V. Venu also noted, “A complaint was received with the Internal Complaints Committee under the PoSH Act… This was in December.” This indicates that the foundation is taking the matter seriously and is following the necessary protocols.

At the time of his resignation, there was no police complaint related to the incident, which raises questions about the next steps in the legal process. Krishnamachari’s future role as a cultural curator remains uncertain, though he was appointed to this position after stepping down from the foundation.

The sixth edition of the Kochi Biennale, which opened on December 12, 2025, has been overshadowed by these developments, as the art community grapples with the implications of such serious allegations against a prominent figure.

As the situation unfolds, the Kochi Biennale Foundation’s Internal Committee will continue to investigate the complaint, and further developments are expected in the coming weeks.