Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan announced on Sunday that his department has completed an internal investigation into the death of former Kannur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu and submitted the report.
Naveen Babu allegedly died by suicide after being accused of corruption by former Kannur District Panchayat President P P Divya at his farewell event. Addressing reporters, Rajan clarified that the probe was a "fact-finding inquiry" to verify allegations that Babu was involved in corruption and intentionally delayed a file.
Reports suggest that the Revenue Department's investigation, led by Land Revenue Joint Commissioner A Geetha, found no proof of corruption against Babu. Rajan confirmed this, stating that the inquiry was based on facts and documents, and the findings were reviewed by the Chief Minister and himself. With no evidence of wrongdoing, the government has closed the file.
He also mentioned that while the police are investigating other aspects of the case, the Revenue Department’s findings could be helpful to them. The report also suggested that P P Divya's presence at Babu’s farewell function was pre-planned. However, Rajan clarified that investigating any possible conspiracy falls under the police’s jurisdiction, not the Revenue Department's.
When asked about the police investigation, Rajan declined to comment further, saying the case is before the court. He expressed hope that justice would be served to Babu’s family and assured that if necessary, the matter could be re-examined in the future.
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CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam stated that the government had assigned a senior revenue officer to investigate the case, showing the Left government’s commitment to finding the truth. He also supported the family’s demand for justice, adding that those responsible should be punished.
Naveen Babu’s family has approached the Kerala High Court, requesting a CBI investigation into his death. The controversy began when Divya, a CPI(M) leader, allegedly attended Babu’s farewell function uninvited on October 14 last year.
During the event, she accused him of delaying the approval of a petrol pump in Chengalai for months and approving it only two days after being transferred, implying there was a hidden reason for the delay.
Following the incident, Divya was arrested after her request for anticipatory bail was denied. She was later released on regular bail.
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