Preliminary Injunction Order against TANA Former President

U. S. Federal Court issues Preliminary Injunction against TANA Former President Mr. Prabhakar Choudary Kakarala

On Friday, December 12, 2008, after an evidentiary hearing, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued a Preliminary Injunction against former TANA President Prabhakar Choudary Kakarala. Under the terms of the Court’s order, pending a trial on the merits, 

Mr. Kakarala is: “ENJOINED from:

a. Purporting or representing himself to be TANA’s President;
b. Conducting or attending any meetings where he is held out or being represented by others to be TANA’s President;
c. Calling for or conducting any TANA elections as President;
d. Stating that TANA’s official 2009 meeting is in Florida;
e. Taking any actions on TANA’s behalf; and/or
f. Using or infringing upon TANA’s name, trademarks, logo and service marks.”

The court further ordered “that all actions taken at the October 4th, 2008 meeting held in Atlanta, Georgia, are ENJOINED and SUSPENDED pending a trial on the merits.” Finally, the court ordered “that the current Executive Vice President of TANA shall act as the interim President of TANA pending a trial on the merits.” 

The full text of the Court’s order is available at www.tana.org. These restrictions will remain in effect until the trial of the case. The date for the trial has not yet been set by the court.

TANA Interim President, Jayaram Komati, expressed great sadness that TANA was forced to seek the assistance of the court but expressed his hope that Friday’s ruling would go a long way to eliminate the current confusion and disruption among the members of TANA. Rather than focus on the past, Mr. Komati urged the Telugu community to come together and move forward together. He looks forward to a successful TANA Folk Arts Festival in Andhra Pradesh later this month and the 17th TANA Conference in Chicago in July 2009. Mr. Komati also reiterated that the TANA Governing Board will continue to explore any reasonable means, including negotiations with all interested parties, including Mr. Kakarala, for a speedy resolution of all pending issues and to promote unity and solidarity among TANA members.