MADURAI: What was passed off as a fire accident in the LIC building in Madurai, which killed a woman officer last month, has turned out to be a pre-planned murder by her colleague. Late on Monday night, police arrested assistant administrative officer D Ram, 46, for setting afire senior branch manager A Kalyani Nambi, 54, of Ponmeni, on the second floor of the LIC building on West Veli Street on Dec 17. Kalyani Nambi was charred to death, while Ram sustained burn injuries in the incident. Ram, who was undergoing treatment in a private hospital, was subsequently discharged. Thilagar Thidal police said they initially suspected that the officer’s death was due to an accidental fire in the building. Ram had told them that a masked man entered the office premises, attempted to rob Kalyani’s ornaments, and set fire to the office.Read also: ‘Bottles filled with petrol, power cut, exits locked’: How man trapped senior branch manager in LIC building However, during subsequent inquiry, he gave contradictory statements, evoking suspicion. Police recovered a few water bottles from Ram’s cabin in which petrol was filled. A tube that was used to suck petrol from his bike was also found. Kalyani’s son also informed police that she had called him that night and asked him to alert the police. These factors helped unravel the murder plot.It turned out that a few insurance agents had complained to Kalyani that Ram was sitting on more than 40 death claims for a long period. Kalyani questioned him about it, and told him that she would inform her superiors. Police said this prompted Ram to hatch a plan to get rid of her and destroy the pending files by setting them afire. According to police, around 8.30pm on Dec 17, Kalyani was in her cabin when Ram turned off the main electricity supply to the building. He sent a complaint by email to TNEB mentioning that something was wrong with the supply and requested repair. Later, he locked the main glass door which gave access to the lobby with a chain.When the lights went out, Kalyani noticed that someone was trying to lock the main door. Sensing that something was wrong, she cried out for help. Ram confronted her and allegedly poured petrol on her and set fire to her, causing the entire cabin to be engulfed in flames. Thereafter, Ram tried to set fire to his own cabin to portray it as an accident, in which he sustained burn injuries, police said.During interrogation, Ram confessed to the murder. Police arrested him from his house and admitted to Govt Rajaji Hospital for treatment. Thilagar Thidal police altered the initial charges of 194 BNSS to offences under Sections 103(1) (murder), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence), 239 (intentionally failing to report an offence they are legally bound to), and 240 (giving false information about a committed offence) of BNS, and 4 of Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Destruction and Loss) Act.
