TGFSL Director Issues Clarification Amid Political Controversy Over Lab Fire
In a significant development following a major fire at the Telangana Forensic Science Laboratory (TGFSL) in Hyderabad, Director Shikha Goel has categorically denied allegations that crucial evidence from high-profile cases was destroyed. The clarification comes after BRS leaders, including working president KT Rama Rao, raised concerns about potential destruction of material related to the 2015 cash-for-vote case.
Forensic Lab Fire Incident Details
The fire broke out on Saturday on the first floor of the G+2 building housing the computer forensic laboratory. The affected area contained multiple critical sections including the property room, case verification chamber, analysis chamber, and service room. Despite the extensive damage to the facility, officials confirmed that a substantial portion of property related to various cases was successfully retrieved from the premises.
Director's Detailed Statement on Case Materials
Addressing media representatives on Sunday, Director Shikha Goel termed the allegations as "wild and preposterous" and provided specific details about the status of materials from two controversial cases:
Phone-Tapping Case Materials
The forensic laboratory received 136 material objects between March 2024 and January 2026 related to the alleged phone-tapping case. According to Goel's statement, all these items had been examined except for seven recently received in January. Reports for the examined materials had already been submitted to the forwarding authority on various dates. Even for the seven recent items, examination has been completed with reports currently under preparation.
"Some material objects have already been returned to the forwarding authority, while the remaining await collection. All material objects in this case were retrieved safely from the laboratory," the director emphasized during her media briefing.
2015 Cash-for-Vote Case Clarification
Regarding the politically sensitive 2015 cash-for-vote case that had sparked the controversy, Goel provided precise information: "Sixteen material objects were received on two different occasions in 2015. The reports were submitted to the ACB court in 2015 itself. The material was returned to the court, and no material related to this case was available at the FSL on Saturday when the fire occurred."
This definitive statement directly addresses the concerns raised by BRS leaders who had questioned whether evidence from this nearly decade-old case might have been compromised in the laboratory fire.
Political Context and Laboratory Operations
The timing of the fire and subsequent allegations created a politically charged atmosphere in Hyderabad. The TGFSL serves as a crucial institution for forensic analysis in criminal investigations across Telangana. Director Goel's detailed breakdown of case material handling procedures and current status appears designed to restore confidence in the laboratory's operational integrity and evidence preservation protocols.
Officials confirmed that while the fire caused significant damage to laboratory infrastructure, their retrieval efforts ensured that case materials remained secure. The incident has highlighted the importance of forensic evidence preservation in high-stakes political and criminal cases that often span years before reaching resolution.
