Kerala Court rejects anticipatory bail for Kannur CPI(M) leader P.P. Divya in ADM Naveen Babu death case

A Kerala Court has dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Kannur CPI(M) leader P.P. Divya in connection with the probe into the death of former Kannur Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu. Divya is charged with abetting the suicide of the revenue officer earlier this month.

Pronouncing the judgment on Divya’s anticipatory bail plea, Thalassery Principal Sessions Court Judge K.T. Nisar Ahmed dismissed her petition. The Court heard the petition on October 24 and reserved judgment for Tuesday.

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The Kerala police has formed a Special Investigation Team to probe Naveen Babu’s death case under Kannur city police chief Ajit Kumar. Kannur Range DIG will supervise the probe. Police have registered a case under non-bailable sections against Divya, including for abetment of suicide. The CPI(M) removed Divya from the Kannur district panchayat president post following the case.

Babu was found dead in his official quarters a day after his send-off meeting at the district collectorate following his transfer to his hometown Pathanamthitta. Allegedly, the former Kannur ADM killed self a day after Divya, who attended his send-off meeting at the district collectorate levelled corruption allegations against him. Divya, allegedly attended the meeting uninvited and criticised Babu in connection with granting NOC for a petrol pump in Chengalai, Kannur.

During the meeting, Divya had said she did not want to present a memento to Babu and added the reason for it would be revealed in two days. She left the meeting immediately after making the allegations. 

A departmental probe reportedly gave a clean chit for Naveen Babu and rejected the corruption allegations. 

Meanwhile, Babu's wife Manjusha welcomed the verdict and demanded the police should immediately arrest Divya.