Tamil Nadu Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar Discusses Theni Jailbreak, Solar Goals, and Political Claims

Tamil Nadu Minister for Energy Resources and Law C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar said on Tuesday in Coimbatore that teams are working to catch 13 prisoners who are still missing after a jailbreak at the District Jail in Thekkampatti, Theni district. Seventeen remand prisoners escaped the previous night after allegedly attacking three prison guards. Four of the escaped prisoners have been caught so far. Security checks have been stepped up at forest areas and checkpoints near the Kerala border. Director-General of Prisons and Correctional Services Sandeep Rai Rathore and the Inspector-General of Police are inspecting the site to check for security lapses.

Political Claims and Other Cases

Mr. Nirmal Kumar dismissed former Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin's claim that the arrest of former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was political revenge. He stated that the legal process will handle the investigation into Mr. Poyyamozhi. The Minister claimed that over four hundred crore rupees were collected from schools as party funds during Mr. Poyyamozhi's tenure through a school safety certificate. He alleged that Christian missionary groups, non-governmental organisations, and trusts faced pressure to make payments. He also mentioned a remark made by supporters of Mr. Poyyamozhi outside a Chennai court, alleging it raises questions about the 2025 Karur stampede. Regarding the death by suicide of Coimbatore student A. Akilan, the Minister stated that police have a free hand to investigate without political pressure.

Power and Solar Updates

On energy matters, the Minister said Tamil Nadu installed 87,000 rooftop solar systems by April and received over 27,000 applications in the following five months. The state aims to reach one lakh houses with rooftop solar by March 2027, with about 10,000 applications already processed. The government is also reviewing fixed electricity charges and will share the result within a week. Long-term power purchase agreements exceeding 4,000 MW are planned, subject to approval from the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Context

Jailbreaks require urgent security reviews and tracking operations by high-ranking police officials to prevent security threats and locate missing inmates. Energy initiatives like rooftop solar installations form a part of broader state efforts to expand renewable power generation and manage electricity targets. Official investigations into financial allegations and student cases involve police and legal procedures to determine responsibility under state law.