Behind Maharashtra’s ‘illegal’ statues — a lucrative business, fly-by-night operations
Indian Express·4h ago·Neutral
What Happened
Balraje Aware-Patil, 45, was arrested in Solapur, Maharashtra for allegedly installing unauthorized statues of historical figures on government land without permission. Police allege he operated a lucrative business installing pre-built statues at night. At least 14 cases related to illegal statues exist in Solapur district, with Aware-Patil named in five. A confrontation at a temple statue installation in March led to stone-pelting and police injuries, triggering the crackdown.
Key Entities
Balraje Aware-PatilSolapur PoliceMaharashtraJalnaAnjangaonAtul Kulkarni (Solapur SP)Madha police station