Kannur (Kerala) | A case was registered on Thursday against Kannur District Panchayat President P.P. Divya for abetment of suicide in connection with the recent death of former Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu. Divya, a CPI(M) district committee member, has also been removed from her position as District Panchayat President.
Divya’s removal was decided at a special CPI(M) district secretariat meeting held on Thursday, and an official statement was issued by the party. K.K. Ratnakumari will replace Divya as the new president.
The district secretariat, in its statement, said that it was of the view that she should step down from the post as the police were investigating the case against her and Divya too agreed with the same.
Divya too issued a statement in which she expressed sadness over Babu's death, conveyed her condolences to the family and assured to cooperate with the police investigation.
She also said that she will prove her innocence through legal means.
She further said that she agreed with the district secretariat's stand that her remarks were merely a well-intentioned criticism against corruption, but she should have refrained from such comments during the send-off meeting.
Divya said that, given the ongoing police investigation against her, she believed it was necessary to step down as District Panchayat President and thus, she tendered her resignation.
She said that she has forwarded her resignation to the concerned persons.
Naveen Babu died by suicide after Divya made corruption allegations against him during his farewell party, following his transfer to his home district of Pathanamthitta, where he was to serve as ADM for the final months of his government service.
Hours after his remains were cremated at his home in Malayalapuzha in Pathanamthitta district, the CPI(M) leader was removed from the post.
Divya has been booked under Section 108 (abetment to suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in the FIR registered at Kannur Town police station.
Initially, the police had registered a case of unnatural death, but later added Section 108 of the BNS. The offence is non-bailable and carries a punishment of up to 10 years' imprisonment.
Naveen Babu, who was expected to reach Pathanamthitta on Tuesday morning to take charge as ADM, was found hanging in his quarters.
At his farewell ceremony, organized a day earlier by his colleagues and attended by District Collector Arun K. Vijayan, Babu faced corruption allegations from Divya, who allegedly attended the event without an official invitation. She criticized him for delaying the approval of a petrol pump in Chengalai for several months, alleging that he only granted approval two days after his transfer, and hinted at knowing the reasons behind the sudden approval.
Babu's death came to light when his wife, a tehsildar, and their children arrived at Chengannur railway station on Tuesday morning to receive him. He was supposed to take charge as ADM of Pathanamthitta later that day. When Babu was not found on the train, the family tried contacting him by phone, but received no response. They then reached out to his colleagues in Kannur, who discovered him hanging in his quarters.
Babu’s death has sparked controversy in the state, with the opposition Congress demanding Divya’s resignation and arrest. The BJP has echoed similar demands.
