Naveen Babu was found hanging in his official quarters on 15 October, a day after CPI(M) leader PP Divya humiliated him in public.
Joint Commissioner of Land Revenue A Geetha recorded the statements of the Kannur District Collector and revenue officials, who attended the farewell function of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu.
Babu was found dead, apparently by suicide, in his official quarters on 15 October, the day after the farewell function in which the District Panchayat President and CPI(M) leader PP Divya, 39, made disparaging comments about the official.
Following Babu’s death, the state government ordered a probe by the Joint Commissioner of Land Revenue into the incidents that preceded the tragedy, and the allegations of corruption that Divya had raised against him.
An abetment to suicide case was also registered against Divya, though she was not yet arrested. A vigilance probe, too, had been ordered. The State Human Rights Commission has also initiated a case.
Related: ADM found dead a day after CPI(M) leader accused him of corruption
Of sensibility and sensitivity
On 14 October, a send-off function was organised at the Kannur Collectorate in honour of Babu, who had been transferred to his home district Pathanamthitta.
During the function, Divya made unexpected and scathing remarks against the ADM, accusing him of delaying the issuance of a no-objection certificate (NOC) to a fuel station. She also hinted that he was corrupt.
Divya stormed out of the function, stating ominously, “The reason for this will become clear in two days.”
District Collector Arun K. Vijayan, who was also present at the function, remained silent throughout Divya’s speech humiliating his subordinate official.
Before leaving, Divya exhorted to always uphold integrity in life and also advised not to engage in activities like those he had done in Kannur at the new posting.
The next day, Babu was found hanging at his official quarters. His family, awaiting his arrival in Pathanamthitta, was devastated to learn of his death.
Also Read: CPI(M) identifies erosion of base in states
Uninvited comments and outrage
Following the incident, public outrage overpoured, with calls for action against both the district collector and Divya.
CPI(M) leader PP Divya.
Initially, the CPI(M) leadership in Kannur tried to defend Divya, terming her remarks as constructive criticism, albeit delivered at the wrong time and place. The CPI(M) district leadership in Pathanamthitta, however, demurred.
Amid growing political pressure, public outrage, and apparently in light of the by-elections, Divya was forced to resign from her post as district panchayat president.
Bypolls for Palakkad and Chelakkara Assembly segments and Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency are scheduled for 13 November.
The ADM’s grieving family has demanded legal action against Divya for abetting the suicide.
In response, the Kannur Town Police registered a case against her, while she sought anticipatory bail from the Thalassery Principal Sessions Court, claiming she had been invited to the function by the district collector and had no malicious intent.
The collector later denied inviting Divya to the function.
Also Read: CPI fumes at ally CPI(M)’s student wing SFI
Collector under fire
District Collector Vijayan, a 31-year-old 2016-batch IAS officer, has also come under scrutiny for his role in the incident.
Collector Arun K Vijayan
Babu’s family accused the collector of mentally harassing the ADM by withholding his transfer and denying him leave.
They also expressed anger over the collector remaining mum during Divya’s remarks and failing to defend the ADM.
The family also asked the collector not to attend Babu’s funeral.
The controversy deepened after Vijayan delivered a letter to Babu’s family. In the letter, he expressed condolences and described the ADM as a compassionate and efficient colleague.
Addressing the media on Saturday, the collector denied inviting Divya to the function and clarified that his letter was not an admission of guilt but a message of sympathy.
Also Read: Post-poll debacle CPI(M) meetings flag Kerala CM’s arrogance
A fake complaint?
Collector Vijayan was initially part of the probe team headed by Geetha. He was dropped from the team after his role, too, came under a cloud of suspicion.
A key aspect of the inquiry will be to determine whether Divya had any evidence to support her claims. The investigation will also scrutinise the movement of the NOC file for the fuel station, examining notes and timelines to check for intentional delays.
Meanwhile, media reports suggested that the complaint against Babu, reportedly filed by the fuel station owner Prasanth, may have been forged.
Discrepancies in names and signatures between the complaint and the agreement for the petrol station have raised doubts about its authenticity. Babu’s death has cast a pall of grief over the state, with ministers, MPs, MLAs, IAS officers, and the public paying their respects on Thursday.
The emotional farewell highlighted the deep loss felt by his colleagues and the broader community. A photograph, purportedly of Babu’s daughter performing his last rites was widely shared on social media.
The ADM’s death is now at the center of a political and administrative storm with the Congress and the BJP making it a topic to attack the government and CPI(M) during the by-election.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
