The Vedurukuppam police of Chittoor district on Sunday (October 05) night arrested a village sarpanch for allegedly setting fire to a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in Devalampet village to falsely implicate his rivals and gain personal advantage.The accused, identified as Govindayya, has been booked under Sections 196(1)(a) and 326(g) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).In the early hours of October 3, unidentified miscreants torched a thatched shop belonging to a woman in Devalampet. The woman immediately called Govindayya for help. Instead of alerting authorities, the sarpanch allegedly used the situation to his own advantage.Police said Govindayya picked up a burning coconut branch from the shop and set fire to the nearby Ambedkar statue, attempting to project it as an act of desecration by his political opponents. The false claim caused brief tension in the area before police quickly intervened. Superintendent of Police Tushar Dudi rushed to the village and pacified the agitating villagers, assuring them that the district administration would replace the damaged statue immediately.Acting on a complaint from Bommana Palli Panchayat Secretary Ramu, the police registered a case and launched an investigation led by Deputy SP (Nagari) Syed Mohammad Aziz and Karveti Nagaram circle-inspector Hanumanthappa.SP Tushar Dudi said that the evidence collected by the investigating teams and FSL personnel confirmed Govindayya’s involvement.“Strict action will be taken against anyone who attempts to disturb public peace for personal gain,” the SP said. The arrested sarpanch was produced before the court on Monday and was remanded to judicial custody.Published - October 06, 2025 05:18 pm IST