Kannur ADM Naveen Babu death: Prosecution tells court no need for further probe

The prosecution on Friday informed the Thalassery Additional District Court (II) that no further investigation was required in the death of former Kannur ADM K. Naveen Babu, opposing a petition filed by his wife, K. Manjusha, seeking a fresh probe. 

Public Prosecutor K. Ajithkumar submitted before Judge T.T. George that the issues raised in the petition had already been examined and rejected by courts from the Magistrate level up to the Supreme Court and that the plea merely reiterated earlier arguments. 

Advocate John S. Ralph, the counsel for the complainant, contended that all relevant documents were not included in the chargesheet. He argued that although the phone records and bank transaction details of the first accused P.P. Divya and T.V. Prashanthan, who accused the ADM of taking bribe, were collected during the investigation, these were not incorporated in the final report. Only 10 days of phone conversation details were submitted, he said. 

The complainant’s counsel further pointed out that the reports by the Tahsildar and the Revenue department referred to a contract matter and alleged that a complaint said to have been given by Mr. Prashanthan to the Chief Minister was not mentioned in the chargesheet filed before the Magistrate.

Responding to the arguments, the prosecutor told the court that the investigation was carried out by the Commissioner under the supervision of the Deputy Inspector General and monitored by the High Court. He said the investigative team had produced all necessary evidence along with the chargesheet and maintained that details regarding the petrol pump contract were not relevant to the charge of abetment to suicide framed against Ms. Divya. 

The court adjourned the case to February 26. Mr. Divya appeared before the court. Advocate P.M. Sajitha represented the complainant, while advocate K. Viswan appeared for Divya. 

Ms. Manjusha had sought further investigation citing alleged lapses in the earlier probe. Last month, Kannur Town Police Inspector Binu Mohan had submitted a report stating that no additional investigation was warranted. 

Naveen Babu was found dead at his official quarters at Pallikunnu in Kannur on October 15, 2024.