One person has been arrested in connection with the vandalism of the statue of Veer Tejaji Maharaj, a revered folk deity in Rajasthan, police said.
Speaking to ANI, Jaipur Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Tejaswani Gautam stated, “More than 10 teams worked on the case and arrested the accused, Siddharth Singh. He runs a café in Raja Park.”
“He said that he was mentally disturbed because his work was not going well, so when he saw the temple and offered prayers there, he got angry in frustration and vandalized the statue. The accused was immediately traced and arrested within a few hours,” DCP Gautam added.
Meanwhile, a wave of unrest swept through Jaipur’s Pratap Nagar area after the statue of Veer Tejaji Maharaj was allegedly vandalized by unidentified miscreants late Friday night. The incident sparked outrage among locals, who took to the streets on Saturday, blocking vehicular movement on the busy Tonk Road in protest.
In response to the rising tensions, Jaipur Police deployed forces across sensitive zones. Additional Police Commissioner Rameshwar Choudhary confirmed that the situation was under control and peaceful as of Saturday afternoon.
“The situation is peaceful now, and some miscreants were arrested. The matter is being investigated. I appeal to the public to maintain peace, and the accused will soon be brought to justice,” Choudhary said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Tejaswani Gautam added that police teams responded immediately upon receiving information about the incident.
“Police reached the spot immediately after receiving information about the incident. An FIR was registered, and multiple teams were deployed to investigate those responsible. Some miscreants attempted to set fire to a nearby petrol pump and were removed using necessary force. Several individuals have been detained, and action is being taken as per the law,” she said.
The act of desecration drew strong political condemnation. Rajasthan Minister Sumit Godara denounced the incident, stating, “I condemn this act. Some anti-social elements are trying to disturb social harmony, but I appeal to everyone to maintain peace. The government will take strict action against the culprits.”
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also issued a statement, calling the vandalism “extremely condemnable.”
In a post on X, he wrote, “The incident of breaking the statue of Veer Tejaji Maharaj in Pratap Nagar, Jaipur, is extremely condemnable. Tampering with public sentiments and faith in this manner is unacceptable.”
“The government must immediately identify the culprits and take strict action against them. Additionally, effective and strong measures should be implemented to ensure the safety of religious places so that such incidents do not recur in the future,” the statement further read.
Veer Tejaji Maharaj is deeply respected in Rajasthan, particularly among the farming community, and any perceived disrespect to his legacy is seen as an insult to cultural sentiments.
