Kannur: The IAS Association has extended support to Kannur Collector Arun K. Vijayan amid flak over the death of ADM Naveen Babu.

The association expressed concern over personal attacks and public insinuations directed at the Collector, emphasising the importance of allowing the ongoing investigation to proceed without external interference. It highlighted that the Collector is fully cooperating with the inquiry and urged both the media and the public to refrain from making hasty judgments. Furthermore, the officers reassured the bereaved family of their support during this difficult time and confirmed that the circumstances surrounding Naveen Babu's death are being thoroughly examined by the revenue department under criminal procedure laws. The association expressed confidence that the investigation will ultimately reveal the full details of the incident.

The IAS Association’s support comes at a time when calls for action against the Collector in relation to Naveen Babu’s death are growing. Since the incident, the Collector has faced widespread criticism. The family of Naveen Babu also raised concerns, questioning why the Collector did not intervene or provide reassurance to Naveen Babu, highlighting remarks made by CPM leader and former Kannur District Panchayat president P. P. Divya.

In a court ruling dismissing P. P. Divya's anticipatory bail plea, a portion of the Collector’s statement emerged, suggesting that after Divya’s controversial speech, the Collector called Naveen Babu to his chamber and spoke with him for about five minutes. The statement mentioned that Naveen Babu admitted he had made a mistake. However, when questioned by the media about this, the Collector clarified that the disclosed part was only a portion of his statement to the police, adding that he could not fully reveal the details to the media.