The building where the theft occurred.
| Photo Credit: special arrangement
Some persons entered the Parashuram theme park in Karkala in Udupi district on Saturday and escaped with some copper sheets covering the roof of the building built around the incomplete Parashuram statue.
In a complaint filed at the Karkala Town police station on Sunday, Arun Kumar, director of Udupi Nirmiti Kendra, said he received a call from Santosh, the former guard at the theme park, that some people broke the lock of the building and escaped with some sheets.
The police registered the complaint for offence under Section 303 (2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. A team of the Karkala police went to the spot along with fingerprint and other investigation staff to find evidence related to the culprits..
Condemning the act, MLA for Karkala V. Sunil Kumar said it was a sad day. The project was taken up with an intention to develop the area into a tourist attraction. Because of the local Congress leaders’ vengeful politics, the project suffered leading to neglect. The State government has failed to grant any funds and develop the park. The site has been barred for visitors since September 2023.
Mr. Kumar, during his term as Minister, mooted the project of having the Parashuram theme park at Ummikal Hills near Karkala and the government sanctioned ₹11.05 crore. Then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai unveiled the statue and soon after the statue was disassembled. In a chargesheet related to a complaint against the construction of the statue, the police said brass was used to make the statue. The Karnataka High Court said the sculptor should face a probe for the ‘shoddy’ work.
Published – January 04, 2026 08:01 pm IST