Salem doctor arrested for defacing statue of former CM Karunanidhi

Published On 2025-07-17 09:00 GMT   |   Update On 2025-07-17 09:07 GMT

ENT Specialist Arrested

Advertisement

Salem: A 77-year-old ENT doctor from Salem was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly defacing a 16-foot-tall bronze statue of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi by pouring black paint on it at Anna Park.     

According to the Hastampatti police, the doctor allegedly poured black paint on the statue at Anna Park while grappling with mental distress linked to ongoing family problems. The act of vandalism came to light after CCTV footage from the area showed the senior doctor approaching the statue with a container of black paint.

The doctor, a long-practicing ENT specialist who runs Arunagiri ENT Nursing Home in the Four Roads area of the city, reportedly confessed to the act when confronted by the authorities.   

Also Read: Fake 'Doctor Sahib' posing as AIIMS doctor arrested after 10-year run

Speaking to TOI, Assistant Commissioner K. M. Aswini said, "He admitted to defacing the statue when we approached him for questioning." She confirmed that the doctor was suffering from prolonged mental distress linked to ongoing family issues.  
Advertisement

The police booked the doctor under sections 196 (Promoting enmity between different groups and disturbing public tranquillity) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the BNS and sections of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Destruction and Loss) Act, 1982, reports TOI.   

He has since been remanded to judicial custody. While the act itself is being handled as a criminal offence, the circumstances surrounding it have drawn attention to the importance of recognising and addressing mental health issues.    

Also Read: Bengaluru doctor threatens to crash Air India Flight, Deboarded

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that a 36-year-old Ayurvedic doctor was arrested after allegedly creating chaos aboard an Air India flight from Bengaluru to Surat, prompting a major security scare that delayed the flight by nearly two hours.  
Tags:    

Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.

NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.

Our comments section is governed by our Comments Policy . By posting comments at Medical Dialogues you automatically agree with our Comments Policy , Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Similar News