This Saraswati idol was accidentally damaged a couple of years ago, not now - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
October 9, 2020
A post with the image of a damaged idol of Goddess Saraswati is being widely shared on social media with the claim that the vandalization took place recently in Narasaraopet, Andhra Pradesh. Through this article, let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Image of Goddess Saraswati which is recently vandalized in Narasaraopet, Andhra Pradesh.
Fact: Guntur police enquiry revealed that the idol was accidentally damaged a couple of years ago when the college administration demolished the building in which the idol was present. Guntur police through a press note and Guntur SP through a press meet confirmed the same. The damage was not done recently.  Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Google search with relevant keywords led us to a tweet by Guntur Rural Police through which they cleared the air surrounding the damage of the idol. In the tweet, they shared a video of the owner of the land in which the idol is located. In the video, the owner can be heard saying that the land premises was leased to Krishnaveni college and the idol was accidentally damaged a couple of years ago when the college administration demolished the building. Also, the owner of the land ruled out the news of the idol being damaged in recent times.
𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬….
ఉదయం నరసరావు పేట లో సరస్వతీ దేవీ విగ్రహము ను ధ్వంసం చేస్తున్నట్లు వచ్చిన న్యూస్ పూర్తిగా సత్యదూరం, కావాలని దుష్ప్రచారం చేస్తున్నారని, ఆ విగ్రహం ధ్వంసం గురించి ఆ స్థల యజమాని యొక్క వివరణ. @APPOLICE100 @IPR_AP @OpIndia_com pic.twitter.com/5EOVytp7qa
In a press release regarding the issue, Guntur police stated that the Principal and lecturers of the Krishnaveni college have admitted that the idol was damaged four years ago and has been lying there since then.
As the images of the damaged idol went viral on social media, Guntur Rural SP addressed a press meet in which he categorically stated that the idol is not damaged recently. In another press meet, Guntur police confirmed the same. News articles which reported this can be read here and here.
When FACTLY reached out to Narasaraopet one town police station regarding a clarification, they have also confirmed the same.
In the wake of the Antarvedi temple chariot being burnt to ashes and the series of events which unfolded following the incident, posts like the one in the post are being shared on social media with misleading claims.
To sum it up, Saraswati idol accidentally damaged a couple of years ago is shared as the one being intentionally vandalized recently.