MADURAI: What was initially believed to be an accidental fire at the LIC building in Madurai that claimed the life of a woman officer last month has now been revealed as a premeditated murder. Late on Monday night, police arrested assistant administrative officer D Ram (46) for allegedly setting senior branch manager A Kalyani Nambi (54) on fire inside the LIC office on December 17.
Kalyani Nambi, a resident of Pornimeni, died of severe burn injuries, while Ram, who also sustained burns, survived and was treated at a private hospital before being discharged. At first, Thilagar Thidal police suspected the incident was an accident. Ram told investigators that a masked intruder had entered the office, attempted to snatch Kalyani’s jewellery, and then set the office on fire.
However, his statements later became inconsistent, raising suspicion. During the investigation, police recovered water bottles filled with petrol from Ram’s cabin, along with a tube allegedly used to siphon fuel from his bike. Further, Kalyani’s son informed police that his mother had called him on the night of the incident and asked him to alert the authorities, suggesting she sensed imminent danger. These clues helped police piece together the murder plot.
Investigators found that several insurance agents had earlier complained to Kalyani that Ram had been sitting on more than 40 death claim files for an extended period. When Kalyani questioned him and warned that she would escalate the issue to senior officials, police believe Ram decided to eliminate her and destroy the files.
According to the police, around 8.30 pm on December 17, Ram allegedly switched off the building’s main power supply and sent an email complaint to TNEB claiming there was a fault and requesting repairs. He then reportedly chained the main glass door leading to the lobby, restricting movement.
When the power went out, Kalyani noticed someone trying to lock the main door and cried for help. Police say Ram then confronted her, poured petrol on her, and set her on fire, causing the cabin to be engulfed in flames. He later attempted to set fire to his own cabin to make the incident appear accidental, during which he sustained burn injuries.
During interrogation, Ram reportedly confessed to the crime. He was arrested from his residence and admitted to Government Rajaji Hospital for treatment. Police have revised the case from an initial accidental death inquiry under Section 194 of BNSS to multiple serious charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 103(1) (murder), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence), 239 (intentional failure to report an offence), and 240 (giving false information), along with Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Destruction and Loss) Act.
