A day after CPI(M) leader and Kannur district panchayat president PP Divya made critical comments about Kannur Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu at a public event, he was found dead at his residence on Tuesday.
Police have launched an investigation into Babu’s death, which took place just hours before he was set to assume his new role as the Additional District Magistrate in Pathanamthitta.
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The incident unfolded during Babu’s farewell event in Kannur on Monday, where he was honored by district collector Arjun Pandan. Divya, who was not invited, attended the function and publicly expressed her frustrations with Babu’s tenure.
“I am extending all wishes to the ADM, who is moving to another district,” Divya said. She recounted an earlier interaction regarding a no-objection certificate (NOC) for a fuel outlet in Chengalai, claiming that Babu had been unresponsive. “The entrepreneur (fuel outlet applicant) had come to me several times saying that no decision has been taken on the issue. When I asked the ADM, he said there was some issue due to the zigzag road and it was difficult to give an NOC,” she added. Divya alleged that the NOC was granted only because Babu was leaving his post.
After making her comments, Divya abruptly left the event, stating that she would reveal her reasons for doing so in two days.
The CPI(M) in Kannur has yet to comment on the situation. Divya also serves as the state joint secretary of the CPI(M) women’s wing, the All India Democratic Women’s Association. In response to the incident, the Congress party has called for a case of abetting suicide to be filed against Divya.
Babu is survived by his wife, Manjusha, who works as a tehsildar in Konni, Pathanamthitta district.