A senior Congress functionary has stirred controversy by alleging that the recent theft at the Parashurama Theme Park in Udupi district was not a random crime but a premeditated act. Muniyal Uday Kumar Shetty has raised serious questions, pointing fingers at the local administration and a BJP MLA.
Shetty Questions MLA's Prior Knowledge
Addressing reporters on Tuesday, Muniyal Uday Kumar Shetty presented a puzzling sequence of events. He highlighted how Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar managed to share information about the theft on his Facebook page before the victims had even filed an official police complaint. This timing, according to Shetty, casts doubt on the incident's nature and suggests insider knowledge or a staged event.
"How did the MLA get this information so swiftly? The complaint was registered with the police only later," Shetty questioned, implying the act was calculated.
Statue Dispute and Allegations of Diversion
Shetty connected the theft to an ongoing legal matter concerning a new statue of Parashurama. He revealed that he had filed a public interest petition in court advocating for the construction of a grand statue at Umikkal Hill in Bailoor, Karkala. The court accepted his plea and directed a payment of Rs 5 lakh, which Shetty says he has already deposited, awaiting further instructions.
He accused MLA V Sunil Kumar of being perturbed by this petition. "The MLA, disturbed by my legal action, is making such statements to divert public attention," Shetty alleged. He contended that if the MLA had honestly overseen the statue's construction when the theme park project began, this unfortunate situation would never have occurred.
Administrative Lapses and Police Case
Beyond the political accusations, Shetty pointed to significant lapses in the park's security and maintenance by the district administration. He formally requested the immediate installation of CCTV cameras at the Parashurama Theme Park and called for regular cleanliness drives in the surrounding area to prevent such incidents.
The Karkala Town police had registered a case on Sunday based on a complaint about the theft. According to the FIR, miscreants forcibly opened the park's gate and stole copper sheets that were fixed to the roof of a building within the premises. The investigation into the theft is currently underway.
