‘ADM took bribe to approve petrol pump; I didn't expect it to escalate,’ says complainant

Kannur: Prashanth, who had complained to the District Panchayat president about the bribery by Kannur ADM Naveen Babu, who was found hanging at his residence on Tuesday morning, claimed that he paid a bribe to the ADM to secure approval for a petrol pump. 

Complainant Prashanth said he had applied for permission to set up a petrol pump, but the ADM delayed the process for six months, claiming that he needed more time to review the file. Later, Prashanth was summoned to the ADM’s residence, where he was asked for money.

According to Prashanth, the alleged bribe was given to obtain approval for a petrol pump at Niduvaloor in Cheranmoola. After delaying the application for six months, Naveen Babu called Prashanth to his residence on October 6 and demanded Rs 1 lakh. When Prashanth suggested sending the amount via bank transfer, the ADM refused. He also rejected the option of receiving the money via Google Pay. When Prashanth said he did not have that much cash on hand, the ADM gave him two days to arrange it. Prashanth claimed he gathered Rs 98,500 from his savings and by borrowing, and handed it over to the ADM on the same day.

Prashanth stated that he has phone records proving that he was called to the ADM's residence, but has no evidence of the cash handover as it occurred inside the house, with his phone left in his vehicle. He added that the ADM had threatened him, saying that if the money was not paid, the approval would never come through. Finally, Prashanth handed over the money, and also informed District Panchayat president P P Divya of the bribe, as she had previously asked him to report any such instances. Divya, in turn, had advised him to file a complaint with the Chief Minister, Prashanth said.

Prashanth also said he initially believed the matter would end after the complaint, and did not expect Divya to raise it publicly or for it to escalate like this. He explained that at first, no money was requested, with the ADM only stating that the file was under review. It was on Saturday that the ADM took his phone number, called him to his residence, and demanded the bribe. 

Prashanth added that at the time, his primary concern was getting approval for the petrol pump, for which he had already spent nearly Rs 4 lakh, including the cost of mortgaging his property. He said he felt compelled to pay the bribe due to the threats, and would not have otherwise.