Kannur District Collector Arun K. Vijayan on Saturday refuted claims of inviting CPI(M) leader and former Kannur district panchayat president P.P. Divya to former Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu’s farewell. Babu allegedly killed self feeling hurt over Divya’s corruption allegation against him.
Addressing presspersons, Vijayan condoled Naveen Babu’s death and said it was unfortunate. Everyone at the collectorate shares in the family's grief, he said. Refuting claims regarding inviting Divya to the event, Vijayan said, “It is the staff council which organised the farewell, not collector; they can be asked whether Divya was invited.” Vijayan replied in the affirmative to the reporters' query that since he did not organise the event, he did not invite anyone, PTI reported. However, the collector refused to comment further as the matter was sub judice.
Reportedly, Land Revenue Joint Commissioner A. Geetha recorded the collector’s statement on Saturday as part of a probe into circumstances that led to Babu’s death.
Meanwhile, the opposition and Pathanamthitta unit of CPI(M) has demanded a probe against the collector as well in connection with Babu’s death. CPI(M)'s Pathanamthitta district leader Malayalappuzha Mohanan, claimed that the collector forced Babu to attend the event despite him saying there was no need for any such ceremony as he was only being transferred, PTI reported. Mohanan alleged the collector had obstructed Babu's leave applications and transfer requests.
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The Kannur police has registered a case against Divya and she has been booked for abetment for suicide. In her anticipatory bail plea, Divya reportedly claimed she was invited to the event by the collector. The CPI(M) removed Divya from the panchayat president post following the case.
The CPI(M) allegedly attended Babu’s farewell event uninvited and raised corruption allegations against him. Allegedly, Divya criticised Babu for delaying the approval of a petrol pump in Chengalayi for several months and said approval was granted only two days after being transferred, hinting that she knew the reasons behind this sudden approval. Notably, Babu also comes from a left-leaning family and has been part of a leftist service organisation.