Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the purported irregularities surrounding the establishment of the Parashurama theme park by the former Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karkala, Udupi district.

The order follows accusations of corruption in the construction of the theme park raised by local Congress leaders. According to the sources familiar with the situation, the decision to initiate the investigation stems from protests organized by Congress leaders from the Karkala block unit and the Udupi district unit, who have been demanding a thorough inquiry.

The theme park, situated in Erlapadi village panchayat in Karkala, has faced allegations of malpractice during its construction. Accusations include encroachment on Gomala land and poor quality of material.

Inaugurated hastily by former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in January 2023, the theme park faced immediate issues as the statue displayed structural flaws, leading to its partial dismantlement owing to a weak foundation. Controversy intensified with allegations of corruption and disputes regarding the statue's material composition, sparking protests and a notable outcry on social media.

The Congress's local unit has persistently accused corruption in the project, claiming that the statue was not entirely crafted from bronze. Protests by certain individuals compelled a halt in the work, fueling social media posts asserting that the statue had become headless. At present, only a partial statue of Parashurama is left within the confines of the theme park.

District in-charge minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar visited the park last month and said that it is required to complete a project like a theme park. “The work was hastened when the elections were round the corner to mislead people. She would do everything to set right the issue as per the law,” she said.

On February 2, Hebbalkar wrote to the chief minister, urging him to initiate an investigation into the construction work of the theme park. Responding to this plea, the chief minister has subsequently issued orders for the investigation.

This development follows closely on the heels of the state government establishing a committee to probe reported irregularities in the Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KEONICS). The order specifies that the panel, chaired by retired IAS officer S D Meena, was formed in response to findings noted during the compliance audit of KEONICS from 2018-19 to 2022-23 by the principal accountant general.

The government has already initiated investigations into various allegations, including the alleged bitcoin scam, the police sub-inspector (PSI) recruitment scam, and the contractors' association's accusation that the BJP government demanded a 40% commission for approving development projects.

The Parashurama statue was constructed by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Kannada and Culture. The total cost of the project was around Rs 11 crore, of which Rs 7 crore was spent on the park.

Image source: Wikipedia Commons