Kerala HC rejects plea for CBI probe into Ex-Kannur ADM's death

The Kerala High Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking a CBI investigation into the death of former Kannur ADM Naveen Babu.

It issued the order in response to a plea challenging the single bench's earlier decision to reject a petition filed by Babu's widow, who sought to transfer the investigation into her husband's alleged suicide to the CBI.

Babu's family told reporters that they were not satisfied with the investigation being conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala Police and were likely to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.

On January 6, while rejecting the family's plea, the single bench directed the DIG (Kannur) to oversee the ongoing SIT investigation.

Babu allegedly died by suicide in Kannur following corruption allegations made against him by former Kannur District Panchayat President P P Divya at his farewell function.

Attending his send-off event allegedly uninvited on October 14 last year, the CPI(M) leader criticised Babu for delaying the approval of a petrol pump in Chengalai for several months.

She remarked that he had granted approval only two days after being transferred, insinuating that she knew the reasons behind the sudden approval.

Divya was later arrested by the police in connection with the incident.

Babu’s widow, Manjusha, had approached the High Court, arguing that the investigation was not progressing in the right direction.

She alleged that the accused, Divya, possessed significant political influence, raising concerns that the investigation could be sabotaged.