ADM’s family seeks justice, plans to move High Court over lax probe

Thiruvananthapuram: The family of Kannur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu, who died by suicide last month, is preparing to approach the Kerala High Court, challenging what they call an inadequate police investigation that led to the bail of CPI-M leader P.P. Divya.

According to sources, Manjusha, Naveen Babu’s wife, is consulting legal experts on filing an appeal against Divya’s bail and seeking a court-supervised investigation. She is reportedly dissatisfied with the current police probe, alleging that key factors linked to her husband’s death remain unexamined.

The ADM’s family is also urging a closer look into the roles of Kannur District Collector Arun Vijayan, T.V. Prasanth, the complainant against Naveen Babu, and Prasanth’s brother-in-law, who is known to have close ties with CPI-M officials.

Following her release, Divya addressed the media, expressing confidence in proving her innocence. "I will prove my innocence and I trust the judiciary. Just like the family of Naveen Babu, I too wish the same, that a thorough probe should take place into the whole incident,” she said.

She also expressed sadness over Babu’s death, noting, “I have been in the public domain for the past nearly two decades. All along, I have cooperated with officials, and all that I said was without any malice.”

Divya was granted bail by a Kannur court and subsequently released from the Women’s Jail. Her legal counsel stated that the bail was anticipated, asserting confidence in proving her innocence during the trial, which they believe will bring more details to light.

With IANS inputs