ADM found dead a day after being accused of graft

KANNUR/KOTTAYAM: Additional district magistrate Naveen Babu K was found hanging in the bedroom of his official residence at Pallikunnu in Kerala’s Kannur Tuesday, a day after CPM funtionary and panchayat president PP Divya accused him of corruption during a farewell function held in his honour.

Babu, a resident of Pathanamthitta, was scheduled to return to his home district to assume his new position as ADM Tuesday. Kannur city police commissioner Ajith Kumar said an investigation is underway. “We have not found a suicide note, and the exact cause of death has yet to be determined,” he said.

Babu’s death ignited a political uproar , with UDF and BJP calling for Divya’s resignation. They organised protest marches outside the district panchayat office. Youth Congress, BJYM, district collectorate employees, and Babu’s colleagues also protested.

Revenue minister K Rajan said Babu had requested a transfer to Pathanamthitta as he was nearing retirement. “He was a honest official, someone in whom responsibility could be confidently entrusted,” he said.

CPM’s Pathanamthitta district committee demanded an investigation into Babu’s death. District secretary KP Udayabhanu said a proper inquiry would be conducted. CPM member Malayalappuzha Mohanan threatened to file a suit if the party did not initiate an investigation into Divya’s remarks.

Local CPM members in Kannur defended Divya’s statements. However, CPM district secretariat said Divya should have refrained from making such comments during Babu’s farewell, acknowledging that public representatives often hear grievances but should exercise caution in their responses.

According to Babu’s colleagues, he was troubled by the allegations made by Divya at a function organised by his colleagues Monday in the presence of district collector Arun K Vijayan.

Divya accused Babu of delaying the issuance of an NOC for a petrol pump in Chengalai, a village in Kannur, for several months. Divya alleged that she had contacted Babu multiple times but he cited technical reasons, and approved the NOC two days before his farewell.

NOC applicant TV Prasanthan has filed a complaint with CM Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging that Babu had solicited a bribe from him. Prasanthan claimed that he had provided evidenceto officials from the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau Monday.