Kerala HC declines plea for CBI probe into Kannur ADM’s death

The Kerala High Court on January 6, 2025, disallowed a plea by Manjusha, widow of former Kannur Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu, seeking a CBI probe into her husband’s death.

The Kerala High Court on Monday (January 6, 2025) disallowed a plea by Manjusha, widow of former Kannur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu, seeking a CBI probe into her husband’s death.

Justice Kauser Edappagth while declining the plea of Manjusha, however, directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Kannur to monitor and supervise the investigation and to ensure that the investigation is being carried out in a fair and effective manner.

The court also directed the Special Investigation Team probing the death to investigate the possibility of homicidal hanging as apprehended by the petitioner and also consider the grievances highlighted by the petitioner.

The SIT was also directed to file a periodic progress report on the investigation before the Kannur DIG and inform the petitioner about the progress of the investigation.

The court directed the SIT to file a draft report before the DIG after completion of the investigation for vetting and ordered that the final report shall be filed only after getting approval from the DIG.

The court passed the order on a writ petition seeking CBI investigation into the death of Naveen Babu by Manjusha.

Naveen Babu was found dead at his residence in Kannur on 15 October last year. The police suspected that he committed suicide following public humiliation and allegations of corruption charges levelled against him by former Kannur District Panchayat President, P. P. Divya at his farewell function on 14 October. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe the death arrested Divya and she was later released on bail on 8 November.