Overview
- Police served a formal notice to V.K. Pandian on Wednesday to appear for examination on July 25 and to bring any documents, records or electronic devices that may help the investigation.
- The probe began after the Home Department said that while other files were returned on June 4, 2024, the Justice A.S. Naidu Commission report on the 2008 Kandhamal killings and the RDC inquiry report on the 2016 SUM Hospital fire were untraceable.
- An FIR filed on June 10, 2026 at Capital Police Station (Case No. 460/26) cites provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and alleges crimes such as criminal breach of trust, concealment or destruction of official documents, and criminal conspiracy.
- Investigators have already summonsed former officials Rajesh Verma and Manoj Mishra, with Mishra recorded as cooperating on July 18 while Verma initially missed his deadline and has been issued a fresh notice to appear.
- The missing reports concern painful public tragedies and their disappearance during the 2024 handover raises questions about record custody and transparency; the next steps to watch are Pandian’s July 25 appearance and whether the police can locate the files or secure clearer documentary traces.