The Thalassery Additional Sessions Court, after reviewing CPI(M) leader P.P. Divya's petition, has postponed the hearing for her anticipatory bail to October 24. Divya was removed from her position as Kannur district panchayat president after being charged by Kerala police with abetment to suicide, a non-bailable offence, in connection with the death of Kannur Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu. Earlier, Babu’s brother had filed a complaint claiming Babu's death was the result of threats from Divya and a conspiracy in which she was also involved.
In her bail plea filed on Friday, Divya claimed that she attended the ADM's farewell function—where she raised corruption allegations against Babu—based on an invitation from the district collector. She further stated that her remarks at the event were made with good intentions.
Meanwhile, opposition protests are intensifying over the police's alleged reluctance to arrest Divya, with the opposition also accusing the CPI(M) of shielding its young leader. Notably, Babu also hails from a left-leaning family and the CPIM's Pathanamthitta district leadership previously stated that the party would not support anyone backing Divya.
CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan visited Naveen's family at their residence in Malayalappuzha in Pathanamthitta on Sunday, accompanied by party’s Pathanamthitta district secretary K.P. Udayabhanu.
Speaking to the media after the visit, Govindan stressed that the party stands firmly with the ADM's family and is fully committed to supporting them. "The family has demanded that those responsible for Naveen's death be held accountable," Govindan said, adding that the party will back the family's pursuit of justice.
He assured that the party maintains a unified stance on the issue. However, when questioned by the media about Divya's continued position in the party’s Kannur district committee, Govindan stated that his previous comments were the party's final word on the matter. As Kerala prepares for by-elections in two assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat, the controversy and the alleged protection provided by the party and the government to the controversial woman leader is putting CPI(M) on the back foot.
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Meanwhile, state Health Minister Veena George stated that T.V. Prashanthan—who alleged he gave Rs 98,500 to the deceased ADM for a petrol pump NOC—is not a government employee. Earlier, reports from some media outlets had claimed that Prashanthan is a permanent employee at Pariyaram Medical College. "If he is found to be working on a contract basis, his services will be terminated," George said.
Prashanthan also claimed that he submitted a complaint about the ADM to the CMO on October 10, just days before Babu's suicide. However, the CMO later clarified that it had not received any such complaints. The Congress and the BJP have alleged that Prashanthan is a benami for Divya's husband, Ajith. Notably, on October 19, an FIR was registered by Kannapuram police in Kannur based on Ajith's complaint, in which he alleged cyber attack against his wife and family.
