No evidence against Naveen Babu; Probe report to come out soon

Kannur: Reports indicate that the Land Revenue Joint Commissioner found no evidence against Kannur ADM Naveen Babu regarding allegations of accepting bribes for issuing an NOC for a petrol pump. According to official sources, there are no statements or evidence suggesting that he intentionally delayed the file related to the NOC. On Monday, Kannur town police took the statement of Collector Arun K. Vijayan at his official residence in the evening.

The allegations against ADM Naveen Babu were made by TV Prashanthan and PP Divya, who claimed he deliberately delayed the file and solicited bribes for the NOC. However, the departmental investigation conducted by A. Geetha, the Land Revenue Joint Commissioner, found no evidence to substantiate these allegations. Furthermore, statements from ADM's colleagues and other officials were reported to be in favour of Naveen Babu.

Notably, PP Divya, who initially raised the allegations, has yet to provide her statement to the investigating officer. The failure of the police to arrest Divya and record her statements has drawn severe criticism from the opposition, damaging the police's public image. Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, have accused the police of operating under the influence of the CPM district leadership.

The family of Naveen Babu has called for an investigation into the collector's role in the conspiracy, alongside that of PP Divya. However, after giving his statement to the police, the collector told the media that he was only serving as a witness to the incident and did not disclose any further details about the investigation.

During the farewell meeting for Naveen Babu on October 14, Divya alleged that the ADM had improperly interfered in the issuance of the NOC and claimed to possess evidence of his interventions. She stated that she would release the documents when the time was right. Following this public humiliation, Naveen Babu was found dead by suicide at his quarters in Pallikkunnu, Kannur, on October 15.