Kochi: K Manjusha, the wife of deceased ADM Naveen Babu has raised suspicions that he may have been murdered and hanged to make it appear as suicide. In a plea filed in the High Court, she expressed dissatisfaction with the current investigation and demanded the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The High Court is expected to consider the plea in the coming days.

On October 15, around 8 am, a Collectorate official informed the family about Naveen Babu's death. However, the police allegedly hastily prepared the inquest report before the family arrived, which Manjusha felt suspicious. The legal requirement for close relatives to be present during the inquest was reportedly violated, further strengthening her doubts.

Manjusha has also urged that the authorities trace who visited Naveen Babu after his farewell function. She felt this can be clarified by examining CCTV footage from the Collectorate premises, staff quarters and railway station. However, the special investigation team (SIT) reportedly failed to collect this footage. Additionally, the plea claims that a letter accusing Naveen of accepting bribes, allegedly sent by a petrol pump applicant to the Chief Minister, was fabricated.

The plea also alleged inadequate investigation into the role of former Kannur District Panchayat president P P Divya. It pointed out that during the farewell meeting, Divya disrupted the proceedings and publicly accused Naveen Babu of corruption, claiming he routinely accepted bribes. Divya allegedly brought a cameraman to record these accusations, which were later widely circulated.

These visuals were reportedly shared with employees across Pathanamthitta district. Despite this, the SIT has not thoroughly probed Divya's role.

The plea further argued that Divya, the sole accused in the case, may have been encouraged to fabricate evidence. It also alleged that, given her political connections as a CPM leader, there is little hope of an impartial investigation unless the case is handed over to the CBI.

The family's lawyer has requested the preservation of evidence, including CCTV footage from the Collectorate, call records and phone location details of both the District Collector Arun K Vijayan and Prasanth, who had sought approval for the petrol pump. 

During Tuesday's proceedings at the Thalassery court, the lawyer clarified that the intention is not to obstruct the investigation, but to ensure evidence is preserved to aid the probe.