Deceased ADM Naveen Babu's wife moves Kerala High Court for CBI probe

The wife of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) late Naveen Babu has moved the Kerala High Court seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into his death [Manjusha v. Central Bureau of Investigation & Ors.].

Babu was found dead in his official quarters on October 15, 2024 after a farewell ceremony organised by his workplace on account of his recent transfer to another district.

At this event, former Kannur District Panchayat President and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader PP Divya, had made some public allegations of corruption against Babu.

Divya was subsequently charged with abetting his suicide and after a short period of judicial custody, she was granted anticipatory bail by a Sessions Court on November 8.

Babu's widow, Manjusha, has now moved the High Court alleging that there are serious doubts regarding the circumstances leading to her late husband's tragic death.

It is alleged in her petition that Divya had trespassed into the function accompanied by a cameraman, delivered a defamatory speech falsely accusing Babu of corruption, and then circulated a recording of the same.

The primary allegation in the petition is that the District Collector of Kannur was unduly influenced by Divya. The petition highlighted a series of events that suggest the Collector’s actions were designed to shield Divya from any legal consequences.

Manjusha also alleged that the SIT failed to conduct an impartial or comprehensive investigation. In this regard, the plea has stated that she has filed a request before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Kannur to preserve crucial evidence related to the case.

This includes CCTV footage from the District Collectorate premises, phone call logs, location data, and recordings involving the District Collector and Prashanth, a government official alleged to be connected to the events leading to Babu’s death.

According to the petition, witnesses are afraid to testify against the Divya as she is a powerful person with significant political connections.

Pertinently, Manjusha has alleged that Babu's death might not have been a suicide as initially presumed by the police, but rather a result of a deliberate act that was made to look like a suicide.

As per the plea, the inquest was conducted in a rushed manner and was carried out before Babu's close family members could arrive at the scene.

Expressing concerns over the fairness of the investigation done by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Manjusha has approached the High Court seeking to transfer the investigation to the CBI.

Advocates John S Ralph, Vishnu Chandran, Ralph R John, Giridhar Krishna Kumar, Geethu TA, Mary Greeshma, Liz Johny and Krishnapriya Sreekumar are representing Manjusha.