Kerala Official Charged in Connection with ADM’s Death, Accusations of Corruption Emerge

Kannur: The Kerala police have registered a case against Kannur District Panchayat President PP Divya following the death of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu. The police have charged Divya with abetment of suicide, which could lead to a prison sentence of up to 10 years if convicted. Authorities in Kannur plan to submit a detailed report to the court, officially naming Divya as an accused in the case.

Naveen Babu was found dead on Tuesday morning at his official residence in Kannur. Preliminary reports suggest that Babu took his own life, following alleged public humiliation and accusations of corruption by Divya during a farewell event held the previous day. The incident has sparked significant attention and discussions about the circumstances leading up to his death.

During the farewell event, Divya reportedly accused Naveen Babu of corrupt practices. The accusation centered around delays in issuing a No Objection Certificate (NoC) to Prashanthan, an entrepreneur aiming to open a petrol pump in Chengalayi, a region within Kannur district. These allegations have raised questions about potential misconduct concerning administrative procedures.

Divya, who is affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), allegedly suggested that Babu had accepted a bribe in relation to the NoC issuance. Her public statement at the event insinuated that monetary exchange influenced the NoC decision, followed by Divya’s comments suggesting Babu refrain from similar actions in his subsequent assignment.

Prashant, the entrepreneur involved, corroborated the corruption allegations posthumously. He claimed that ADM Naveen Babu demanded a bribe of approximately Rs 98,500 to facilitate the NoC’s approval. Prashant stated that he had communicated these issues to Divya, who then reportedly advised him to lodge an official complaint with the Kerala Chief Minister. Prashant confirmed that he filed such a complaint on October 10.

Divya has been formally booked under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which addresses acts implicating abetment of suicide. The legal proceedings are expected to scrutinize the allegations’ validity, examining the broader implications for governance and ethical conduct within the region.