DGP Shankar Jiwal has said the complaint given by ADGP Kalpana Nayak on August 14, 2024, suspecting foul play and sabotage in the fire was immediately forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, for a full-fledged investigation.
| Photo Credit: R. RAGU

The investigation conducted so far in the fire at the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB) headquarters in July last has revealed no wilful act of arson. Hence, any threat to the life of Additional Director-General of Police Kalpana Nayak was ruled out, Tamil Nadu Director-General of Police Shankar Jiwal said on Monday.

The fire had gutted her office chamber.

Reacting to a report in The Hindu on Ms. Nayak, who served as the ADGP, TNUSRB, alleging a plot to eliminate her for flagging irregularities, the Head of the Police Force said the complaint given by her on August 14, 2024, suspecting foul play and sabotage was immediately forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, for a full-fledged investigation.

A case was registered by the Egmore police and an officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police took up the investigation, along with forensic experts and officials of Tangedco, the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation, and a private air-conditioning company. The case was later transferred to the Central Crime Branch of the Greater Chennai Police.

Statements recorded

During the investigation, statements of 31 witnesses were recorded, and experts from forensic sciences, fire services, and electrical departments were consulted to determine the cause of the fire. “The report of the forensic experts has opined that evidence of a short circuit was noticed in copper wires. In addition, the forensic report states that, based on thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography, the presence of any arson material, such as petrol and diesel, or any other inflammable substance is ruled out,” Mr. Jiwal said in a statement.

Ms. Nayak had alleged that an attempt was made on her life after she exposed serious irregularities in the application of reservation for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, and the Other Backward Classes in the recruitment of sub-inspectors, police constables, prison warders, and firemen conducted by the TNUSRB.

The issue gained prominence after the AIADMK, the BJP, and the Pattali Makkal Katchi expressed serious concern over the alleged irregularities in the recruitment and the threat to life alleged by the ADGP.

Selected list revised

The TNUSRB has also issued a clarification that the final provisional list for the recruitment of 750 sub-inspectors of police and station officers for the Fire and Rescue Services Department was published on January 30, 2024, after it was notified in May 2023.

Five candidates moved the Madras High Court challenging the communal reservation adopted by the TNUSRB. They prayed for the revision of the final provisional selection list in line with the orders issued by the Supreme Court. The TNUSRB admitted in open court that the communal roster had been misinterpreted and undertook to make the corrections in line with the Supreme Court orders.

Accordingly, the final list was revised and published October 3, 2024. “The recommendations made by the then ADGP [Ms. Nayak] were duly considered while redoing the process of recruitment, including the issue of Communal Roster,” the TNUSRB said.