Mysuru, June 1 -- The man who climbed the iconic statue of Rajarishi Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar at Krishna Raja (K.R.) Circle told the Police that he believed the statue resembled his grandfather, prompting him to climb onto its shoulders.

"He looked like my grandfather, so I sat on his shoulders," said 36-year-old Shivamurthy, a resident of Doora in Mysuru taluk, who was arrested by Devaraja Police for his bizarre and disrespectful behaviour.

According to the Police, Shivamurthy appeared to be mentally disturbed during questioning and repeatedly claimed that he saw his grandfather in Nalwadi's likeness.

On Friday (May 30) evening, he was seen engaging in alarming acts: Shaking the statue, clutching it tightly and even scraping a lit ...