Kannur ADM Suicide Case: Woman, mother and representative, PP Divya defends in court

Kannur: P P Divya, the former Kannur District Panchayat president who was in remand on charges of abetment to suicide of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) K Naveen Babu, has been released on bail after 11 days. 

District Sessions Judge K T Nisar Ahmed had heard arguments for two hours last Tuesday in the case, when the defence argued that there was circumstantial evidence regarding the ADM’s acceptance of a bribe. Divya’s lawyer had maintained that the allegation was made with good intentions. However, the defence acknowledged in court that the controversial remarks made in her farewell speech could have been avoided. Advocate K Viswan appeared in court on Divya's behalf.

Key points from Divya's argument:
Divya had expressed her willingness to comply with the bail conditions, asserting that the arguments against her are not substantiated. She reiterated that the ADM had confessed to the Collector of committing a mistake. Divya claimed to have cooperated with the investigation team and had appeared before the investigating officer after her anticipatory bail application was rejected. 

A summons was issued by the investigation team the day before her anticipatory bail application was considered, and she informed the court of her inability to appear, she added. 

Further arguments were that the investigation team still has additional evidence to gather. Scientific evidence was presented regarding the alleged bribe. Divya did not approach the High Court when her anticipatory bail application was denied. 

Divya clarified that she had not handed over the farewell video. Her counsel also noted that she is a woman, a people’s representative and the mother of a child in Class 10.

On October 5, Prasanth took a gold loan of Rs 1 lakh from a Cooperative Bank. On October 6, Naveen Babu called Prasanth, and they spoke for 23 seconds at 11:10 am while Prasanth was in Niduvallur, Sreekandapuram. At 12:48 pm, both were found under the same tower in Kannur, on a Sunday. The CCTV footage was presented in court. 

Divya’s lawyer highlighted that the police and vigilance records included Prasanth's statement regarding why Naveen Babu called him and why he gave money.