Kannur (Kerala) | A Kerala court on Friday granted bail to CPI(M) leader P P Divya in a case of abetment to suicide related to the death of former Kannur Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu.

Principal District and Sessions Judge, Thalassery, K T Nissar Ahammed granted relief to Divya, who is the former president of the Kannur district panchayat, with the conditions that she shall not leave Kannur district, will not try to influence witnesses in the case and shall appear before the investigating officer on Monday.

Another condition imposed by the court while granting her bail was that two persons have to stand surety for her.

Her lawyer told reporters outside the court that while the grant of bail was a relief, a lot of things need to be brought before the court. "The truth needs to come out," the lawyer said.

Following the verdict, Babu's wife said the outcome was unexpected and that the family would decide further course of action after discussions with their lawyer.

She said that they would continue their legal fight.

The grant of bail to Divya was welcomed by party leaders in Kannur who said that she was a colleague who had made a mistake, but she need not be rejected or sidelined for it. She, too, has certain rights, including human rights, they said.

Some district leaders of the party's district committee were seen waiting for her outside the jail where she is remanded.

Divya, who was on judicial remand, had moved a petition for regular bail after her anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the court on October 29.

Attending Babu's send-off function allegedly uninvited on 14 October, Divya had criticised him for delaying the approval of a petrol pump in Chengalai for several months and remarked that he granted approval only two days after being transferred, hinting that she knew the reasons behind the sudden approval.

The following day, Babu was found dead at his quarters in Kannur.