ADM's suicide: Kannur court orders further probe on four points, reviving headache for CPM

An Additional Sessions Court in Thalassery, Kannur, has ordered the police to conduct a further investigation into the death of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu, reviving a sensitive case for the CPM. The order came after Naveen Babu’s wife, Manjusha, cited 13 alleged lapses in the initial police investigation. The court directed investigators to examine four key aspects, including phone records of CPM leader P P Divya, alleged bribe payments made by Prashanth T V, CCTV footage of their meeting, and the involvement of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The case stems from the circumstances surrounding Naveen Babu’s death on October 15, 2024, shortly before he was to take charge as ADM of Pathanamthitta. Prior to his death, Divya publicly accused Naveen Babu of corruption and delaying a no-objection certificate for a petrol pump, a speech that went viral. Naveen Babu’s family alleges that this public humiliation contributed to his suicide. The CPM initially defended Divya’s “well-intentioned criticism” but later asked her to resign as district panchayat president.

The court’s decision to reopen the investigation, just after the announcement of Kerala Assembly elections, could prove politically damaging for the CPM. Divya was arrested and spent 11 days in jail before being granted bail. The new probe aims to substantiate claims of bribery and further scrutinize the events leading up to Naveen Babu’s death, potentially bringing the controversy back into the political spotlight.

(Source：Malayala Manorama)