‘Won’t withdraw, will proceed with appeal; doubts still remain,’ says wife of ADM Naveen Babu

Kannur: Even as the High Court on Monday dismissed the petition filed by Manjusha, wife of ADM Naveen Babu, seeking a CBI investigation into his death, she announced that she does not intend to withdraw and will proceed with the appeal. She expressed dissatisfaction with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry and confirmed her intention to pursue the case further, while speaking to the media.

“The petition was filed in the High Court due to dissatisfaction with the SIT's investigation. This verdict is evidence for the fact that the court has not properly considered our side. All the suspicions surrounding my husband's death still remain. Therefore, I intend to continue taking the case forward to any extent,” said Manjusha.

The SIT will investigate the case under the supervision of DIG Yathish Chandra. The court order also directs senior officers to monitor the case and for the Kannur Range DIG to be responsible for it. However, Manjusha stated that she was not satisfied with this order. 

Naveen Babu's brother Praveen Babu also told the media that they will proceed with the appeal.

Former Kannur District Panchayat president and CPM district committee member P P Divya is the accused of abetment of suicide related to Naveen Babu's death. Divya had portrayed Naveen as corrupt during his farewell party after he was transferred to Pathanamthitta. The next day, on October 15, Naveen Babu was found hanging at his Pallikunnu quarters.

Naveen Babu's family, who have raised suspicions over the mysterious circumstances of his death from the beginning, have expressed in the petition that they suspect it was a murder. They alleged that the police were not conducting a proper investigation due to
Divya's political influence. The petition also claimed that the police overlooked blood stains on Naveen Babu's underwear and conducted the inquest hastily, which raised further suspicions. 

The CBI, on the other hand, has stated that it is willing to take over the investigation if directed by the court. The government’s argument against the petition is that no evidence has been presented to substantiate the family’s allegations.