Synopsis
In a significant development, the family of Kannur Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu, who tragically died under mysterious circumstances, has approached the Supreme Court seeking a CBI investigation after previous pleas were rejected by the Kerala High Court. This case has raised serious questions regarding the integrity of the state police investigation.Key Takeaways
- Family of ADM Naveen Babu seeks CBI probe.
- Previous pleas were dismissed by the Kerala High Court.
- Political controversy surrounding Divya's accusations.
- Concerns over the state police's investigation integrity.
- Forceful ligature marks found on Babu's neck.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 14 (NationPress) A month after a division bench of the Kerala High Court dismissed the request for a CBI investigation into the demise of Kannur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu, who was discovered hanging at his official residence on October 15, his wife filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Monday reiterating the same demand.
Earlier in January, a single bench of the High Court had also denied her request, followed by a similar outcome from the division bench in March.
Each time, Manjusha, Babu’s spouse, expressed her disappointment at the rejection of her pleas. After the March 3 ruling by the High Court division bench, she stated her intention to approach the apex court, as the family was dissatisfied with the ongoing investigation by the Kerala Police.
The state government, led by Pinarayi Vijayan, which had initially expressed support for Babu’s family, later opposed the CBI investigation request during the court sessions.
Naveen Babu, known for his integrity, was found deceased just a day after his official farewell from Kannur.
The situation escalated when P.P. Divya, the President of the Kannur District Panchayat and a CPI(M) leader, attended Babu’s farewell without an invitation and accused him of corruption.
The family claimed that Divya’s statements were politically motivated and caused significant distress to Babu. Divya was arrested and temporarily jailed concerning the case but resigned amidst intense backlash.
During her petitions, Manjusha cited irregularities in the investigation process.
Her legal representative argued that the inquest and autopsy were performed hastily, lacking the family's presence. Notably, forceful ligature marks were discovered on Babu’s neck, necessitating scientific examination. The defense expressed concerns that Divya’s influential political ties could obstruct a fair inquiry by the state police.
The Kerala government countered the plea, asserting that the ongoing investigation by the state police was unbiased and evidence-based.
The government’s legal counsel contended that the request for a CBI probe was based on conjecture without substantial evidence.
Divya’s allegations of corruption against Babu were linked to a delay in the issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for a petrol pump application made by T.V. Prasanth, an electrician at the Kannur Medical College.
It is noteworthy that Prasanth was reportedly a colleague of Divya’s husband, raising questions about the potential personal motives behind the accusations.
In the wake of Babu’s death, Divya initially went into hiding but was arrested on October 29 after her anticipatory bail plea was denied.
She was granted bail on November 8. Meanwhile, on March 29, the police investigating the case against Divya submitted their charge sheet, naming her as the sole accused.
