Karkala Parashurama Statue made by Brass, not Fiber: Police submit chargesheet

Karkala Parashurama Statue: The police have submitted a charge sheet in the case concerning the controversial Parashurama statue at the Karkala Parashurama Theme Park and confirming that the statue is made of brass, not fiber as initially alleged.

News Next Kannada reported that the investigation has concluded and the Karkala town police have submitted a comprehensive 1,231-page charge sheet to the Karkala court.

The Allegation: The core of the controversy revolved around the claim that the Parashurama idol, which was intended to be made of bronze, was actually fabricated from sheet metal. This led to allegations of fraud and misrepresentation.

The Investigation’s Findings: The official investigation, including expert analysis, has confirmed that the Parashurama idol was indeed constructed from Brass and not bronze, despite funds being received for a bronze idol.

The police have named the following individuals in the charge sheet:

Krishna Naik (Sculptor, owner of Krish Art World): Accused of fabricating the counterfeit idol using sheet metal, thereby defrauding the government.

Arun Kumar (Project Director, Udupi Nirmithi Kendra): Allegedly failed to adhere to the stipulations of the original work order and provided misleading information regarding the idol’s parts. He was previously suspended from his duties.

Sachin V. Kumar (Engineer): Also purportedly failed to adhere to the work order.

The accused are facing charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Sections 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust), 201 (destruction of evidence), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).

The investigation also revealed that parts of the idol’s upper torso were removed from Ummikal Hill on October 12, 2023, and stored in a shed associated with the Construction Centre until February 25, 2024. This action, along with alleged misleading information about the parts being returned to the sculptor in Bangalore, contributed to the charges of evidence destruction.

Previous Developments:

A formal complaint was lodged by Krishna Shetty in Karkala on June 21, 2024. The Karnataka High Court had previously dismissed a plea by sculptor Krishna Naik to quash the criminal proceedings against him.

The Chief Minister of Karnataka had also ordered a CID probe into the alleged irregularities. The submission of the 1,231-page charge sheet marks a significant step in the legal proceedings, and the Karkala court will now adjudicate on the culpability of the accused and the alleged financial irregularities surrounding the Parashurama idol project.

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