On the other side, the Tamil Nadu Cybercrime police had detained four members associated with the Karuppar Koottam channel following the complaint filed by the Tamil Nadu BJP unit.

DMK leader Kanimozhi has condemned the act. She took to Twitter and said, "He is not a mere statue but the path to self-respect and social justice including those who smear him with colours."

The officials say that the collector was actively engaging in the relief works and inspecting the containment zones in the district during which he could have contracted to the viral infection

The Central government said that the circulation of any kind of information related to COVID-19 on social media without the consent of the government is strictly prohibited under the Epidemic Diseases Act.