Kannur: Police have commenced investigation into the death of Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Kannur, Naveen Babu K, who was found hanging in his apartment a day after facing corruption allegations from the district panchayat president during his farewell ceremony. 

The case will be probed by a 10-member team led by Town Police Inspector Sreejith Koderi. The investigation follows a complaint filed by his brother, K. Praveen Babu. 

The team plans to travel to Pathanamthitta on Thursday to record statements from relatives, coinciding with Naveen’s funeral. Detailed statements will be recorded from his wife and brother, as well as from employees of his office and from his driver. The team will also collect the statement of the district collector, who was present at the farewell meeting when district panchayat president Divya levelled serious allegations. 

Depending on the statements gathered, the investigation team said that they may expand the initial FIR to include charges of abetment of suicide. The postmortem report indicates that Naveen's death was a suicide.

After the farewell meeting, Naveen Babu was driven to the railway station by his driver in an official vehicle. However, Naveen got off along the way and reportedly headed back to his apartment. It is believed he reached his quarters by auto-rickshaw. However, police have been unable to locate the auto-rickshaw. 

Ownership of controversial petrol pump sparks political row

The ownership of a petrol pump linked to the suicide of Naveen Babu has become a focal point of political controversy in Kannur. Both Congress and BJP allege that the complainant, TV Prashanthan, is a benami of Panchayat President Divya's husband.

Prashanthan, an employee in the electrical department at Kannur Government Medical College, applied to start a petrol pump under Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) in Niduvaloor, Sreekandapuram. According to the allegations, Naveen, in his capacity as ADM, demanded a bribe to issue a 'no objection' certificate regarding his application. Prashanthan alleged that he had paid Rs 98,500 to the ADM who had demanded Rs 1 lakh to grant NOC for the pump.

Meanwhile, it remains a mystery how Prashanthan received the no-objection certificate (NOC) to start the petrol pump, given that government employees are prohibited from starting businesses while still on the government payroll. The UDF and BJP have pointed out that Prashanthan has ties to the CPM. 

BPCL has indicated that setting up the pump will cost approximately Rs 1.7 crore. Recently, Prashanthan announced his intention to take loan to finance the venture.

CPM likely to remove Divya from her post

Amid the ongoing controversy, the CPM is likely to take steps to save face by removing the controversial panchayat president, P.P. Divya, from her position. Following Naveen Babu's death, both BJP and Congress have made serious allegations against Divya, claiming that the CPM is attempting to protect her. Recently, a protest march to Divya's residence turned violent, prompting the CPM-led LDF government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the suicide.

The CPM Pathanamthitta district committee has also called for stringent action against P.P. Divya. Central Committee member P. Sreemathi condemned Divya's actions, and employee unions affiliated with the Left Front staged protests demanding action.