Clinton woman sets home on fire over husband’s alleged infidelity

CLINTON — On Saturday, July 5, 2025, Officer Kyle Grady of the Clinton Police Department was working an overtime patrol shift when, at approximately 9:10 p.m., Clinton Dispatch received a 911 call from a woman who stated that she saw smoke and flames coming from underneath the front porch of the residence across the street from her.

(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Kyle Grady and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)

“She also reported that there are several people attempting to put the fire out with fire extinguishers,” Officer Grady said. “At that time, the Clinton Fire Department and Clinton Police Department were dispatched to the residence, located at 13 Horseshoe Lane in the Town of Clinton, MA.”

Officer Grady said a short time later, he arrived on scene with Officers Brendan Rutherford and Brian O’Malley, as well as members of the Clinton Fire Department.

Officer Grady said that while the fire department worked to extinguish the blaze, he spoke with the reporting party.

“She stated she was returning home from work and noticed the smoke and flames as she passed by the residence, and that neighbors were attempting to put it out,” Officer Grady said. “That was when she decided to call 9-1-1.”

Officer Grady said he remained on scene while Officer O’Malley and Officer Rutherford cleared to respond to another call for service.

“As the fire department extinguished the fire and completed their interior and exterior checks, I started receiving information of suspicious circumstances,” Officer Grady said. “Acting Captain Greg Nelson of the Clinton Fire Department reported that the door to the back of the house was cracked open about two inches. Just inside that door was the living room, where the television was on and there was a five-gallon red gas can sitting on the floor. He also stated that the exterior of the house, specifically the left side and the rear, had an extremely strong odor of gasoline.”

When it was safe, Officer Grady and Captain Nelson made their way along the left side of the residence toward the rear, where they were met with a strong odor of gasoline that extended to the back deck.

Captain Nelson then led Officer Grady to the back door, where the screen door was closed and the interior door was reportedly cracked open.

“Inside that doorway, on the living room floor, was the red gas can with gasoline still in it. The entire first floor of the residence had a strong smell of gasoline throughout,” Officer Grady said.

While waiting for state police troopers to arrive on scene and for the homeowner to arrive, Officer Grady said he returned to his cruiser, where he was met with Officer Matthew Champagne who had just arrived on scene.

“As I was updating Officer Champagne of the situation, my attention was drawn back towards the residence,” Officer Grady said. “At that time, Firefighter Jason Ware was walking towards my cruiser and trying to get my attention. Firefighter Ware stated the female owner of the residence arrived and was making statements.”

Office Grady then made his way toward the front of the residence to speak with the woman.

“I was met by Elizabeth Niranjan who stated she lived at 13 Horseshoe Lane,” Officer Grady explained. “I advised Elizabeth of the fire that had been extinguished, and I asked if she knew anything about it. Elizabeth replied, ‘I poured gas on it and I f*ck*ng set it on fire.’ She stated she did it about twenty minutes prior.”

According to police, Elizabeth M. Niranjan, 67, is a resident of 13 Horseshoe Lane, Clinton, MA.

“When asked, Elizabeth stated she poured gasoline on the front deck as well as the back deck, lit a tissue and threw it on,” Officer Grady said. “She continued that she has been married to her husband, Jeya, for 46 years and that he’s been, ‘F*ck*ng around…So, I got pissed. So, I set the f*ck*ng house on fire because I wouldn’t let him have it.’”

Elizabeth then stated, “I just had a meltdown. I just got f*ck*ng pissed with everything.”

She told Officer Grady that she also tried to set the back deck on fire by pouring gasoline all over it, lighting a tissue, and throwing it—though the attempt was ultimately unsuccessful.

“Elizabeth again confirmed that she lives at that residence with her husband Jeya, and nobody else,” Officer Grady said. “It should be noted that the front deck of the residence had significant fire damage. However, the back deck did not ignite despite her efforts.”

Officer Grady said that, at this time, Elizabeth was arrested and escorted to the rear of Officer Champagne’s cruiser.

“I then read Elizabeth her Miranda warnings from a card that I carry on my person,” Officer Grady said. “I explained to her the plan going forward and returned to the scene. I then spoke with all members of the fire department who were present when Elizabeth arrived. These members included: Chief Michael Lutes, Acting Captain Greg Nelson, Firefighter Brian Sibbald, Firefighter David Neeley, and Firefighter Jason Ware. They stated that Elizabeth arrived in the red car parked in front of the residence, a 2019 Nissan Rogue color red, bearing MA Reg [# redacted]. It should be noted this vehicle is registered to her husband, Jeya.”

The members of the Clinton Fire Department reported that Elizabeth pulled up to the residence, got out of her vehicle, approached them near the front of the home, and began yelling.

“It is reported that her statements included, ‘Why did you put it out? Who put it out? I lit it,’ among others,” Officer Grady recounted. “Elizabeth made these spontaneous utterances in the presence of the firefighters listed above, in an angry, high-pitched tone. At that time, Patrolman Michael Frick arrived on scene to assist.”

Officer Grady reported that upon arrival, Trooper David Fleming of the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit, along with members of the State Police Crime Scene Unit, documented the entire scene—taking photographs and collecting samples from the property and from the vehicle driven by Elizabeth.

“A state police K9 was also on scene to investigate the property,” Officer Grady said. “It should be noted the K9 hit on several spots around the residence, specifically the front porch and rear deck, signaling the presence of flammable liquids or accelerants used to start fires.”

At approximately 11:45 p.m., Jeya Niranjan, Elizabeth’s 72-year-old husband, arrived on scene.

“I updated Jeya on the situation and the information we had up until that point,” Officer Grady said. “He was advised that his wife, Elizabeth, was in custody in relation to this case. Jeya stated that he and his wife have been in Connecticut for the last two weeks at their second property.”

Officer Grady said he asked Jeya if there had been any issues between the two of them or if anything had changed recently.

“Jeya stated that on Friday, July 4, while in Connecticut, they had an argument over, ‘simple stuff,’” Officer Grady said. “Due to this argument, Elizabeth decided to leave and return home to their residence in Clinton that same day. Jeya stated they had minimal contact over the weekend through text, and reports there have been no recent changes in her medication or behavior. Throughout our conversation, Jeya appeared to be shocked at what he was being told, laughing at times, stating that nothing like this has ever happened before.”

At this time, Officer Frick returned to Elizabeth and asked her what she used to light the fire.

“She stated that she used a long stick lighter like the ones used for a grill, red in color. She did not remember where she put it, but believed it would be in the kitchen of the residence,” Officer Grady said. “Before looking in the residence, we checked the vehicle she arrived in. On the front passenger seat, in plain view underneath a box of tissues, was the exact lighter that she described. Jeya, the registered owner of the vehicle, was advised of this information. With his consent, these items were seized and taken into custody, where they were photographed, logged, and placed into temporary evidence at the Clinton Police Department. Once the property was deemed safe, all police and fire units cleared and Jeya was allowed to enter his home.”

Officer Grady said that back at the station, Elizabeth was eventually booked, though the process was delayed due to an abundance of other calls for service.

“During the booking process, she was afforded all rights given to one held in custody, including Miranda and a phone call. The bail commissioner was contacted, who set bail. At the completion of booking, Elizabeth was asked if she would be willing to conduct a recorded interview, to which she agreed. After reading Elizabeth her Miranda warnings at the beginning of the interview, she stated she would like to seek legal representation, and refused to speak further. She was then placed in a holding cell to await bail.”

On Sunday, July 6, 2025, Officer Grady returned to Horseshoe Lane to canvas the neighborhood for potential witnesses and/or surveillance camera footage.

“I first stopped at 14 Horseshoe Lane, the residence directly across the street from 13 Horseshoe Lane,” Officer Grady said. “I spoke with the homeowner, John [last name redacted], who has a camera on the front of his house.”

According to Grady, John said someone rang his doorbell at approximately 9:13 p.m. Concerned, he looked out his first-floor window and immediately saw flames coming from underneath the front porch of 13 Horseshoe Lane.

“At that time, he grabbed a fire extinguisher and went over to try and extinguish the fire,” Officer Grady reported. “He also stated that there was another male party with him that grabbed a hose off the side of 13 Horseshoe Lane to put out the flames coming from underneath the front porch.”

Officer Grady said that it was later determined that the person who rang John’s doorbell was the original complainant and the individual using he hose was her father.

“John emailed me a copy of this RING camera footage to my department email,” Officer Grady said. “The video shows [the original complainant] at his front door, and in the background, bright flames coming from the front of the residence at 13 Horseshoe Lane.”

Elizabeth Niranjan was charged with the following:

• Arson of a Dwelling/House
• Attempted Arson of a Dwelling/House

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place earlier this month, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.

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