Wed Nov 13 01:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Sculptor Arrested for Allegedly Using Poor Materials in Parashuram Statue
**Udupi, November 13, 2024:** Krishna Naika, a Bengaluru-based sculptor, was arrested on November 10th in connection with the alleged use of substandard materials in the construction of the Parashuram statue at the Parashuram theme park near Karkala.
Naika, who was apprehended in Mahe, Puducherry, is accused of accepting ₹1.25 crore from the Udupi Nrimiti Kendra for sculpting a bronze statue but instead delivering a substandard replica. The complaint was filed by A. Krishna Shetty, a resident of Karkala.
Following the rejection of his anticipatory bail application by the II Additional District Sessions Court in Udupi, Naika was taken into custody. He has since filed a regular bail application.
The Karnataka High Court, in a recent judgement, stated that Naika should face investigation for delivering “shoddy work,” pointing to the statue’s incorrect alignment, despite using bronze as per the contract.
“The sculpture did not have the strength to stand, as the alignment was completely erroneous,” observed the court. “Though the petitioner was entrusted with the work of sculpting the statue scientifically… he has done a shoddy job, prima facie. The shoddy job is still being redone.”
The court further emphasized that the funds used were public money, and the investigation should determine why the sculptor performed such shoddy work.
Congress leader Muniyalu Uday Kumar Shetty has called for action against Karkala MLA V. Sunil Kumar, Nirmiti Kendra engineers, and other officials involved in the statue’s installation. He criticized the lack of a public apology and explanation regarding the statue from Mr. Kumar.
First Piper 