Police search for Divya as Congress cries foul over delay tactics

Kannur: There are indications that district panchayat president PP Divya has gone into hiding to evade police interrogation and a possible arrest in connection with the death of ADM Naveen Babu. Reports suggest that the police have yet to succeed in interrogating Divya regarding the incident. According to the police, they could not find Divya at her house or in her relatives’ place.

Meanwhile, Congress alleged that the police are deliberately delaying the interrogation and arrest to facilitate anticipatory bail for Divya. They also claim that the CPM district leadership is providing protection for her. Divya has filed a petition seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the case, in which charges of abetment of suicide have been slapped against her. The petition was filed before the Principal Sessions Court in Thalassery. In her petition, she said that her speech during the farewell function was made with good intentions and she was invited to the function by the district collector.

It was on Tuesday morning that Kannur ADM Naveen Babu was found dead by suicide at his quarters in Pallikkunnu, Kannur. During the farewell function arranged for his transfer to Pathanamthitta on Monday at the Kannur collectorate, PP Divya openly humiliated him before his colleagues. She alleged that the ADM had engaged in corrupt deals to issue a NOC to a petrol pump. She stated that she has documents supporting this and would release when the right time comes.

Following Naveen Babu's death, the CPM district leadership criticised Divya for her untimely and unwarranted remarks during the farewell function and removed her from the post of district panchayat president.