Thiruvananthapuram, 04 June (H.S.):

The Kerala Cabinet on Thursday decided to hand over the investigation into the death of former Kannur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), marking a major development in one of the state's most debated cases.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. Though the matter was not part of the official agenda, it was taken up as a special item and approved by the Cabinet. The government also decided to provide a compassionate appointment to Naveen Babu’s daughter, Niranjana Nair.

An official notification transferring the case to the CBI is expected to be issued shortly. The central agency will then decide on the modalities of taking over the investigation from the state police.

The move comes months after Naveen Babu’s family repeatedly demanded a CBI probe, expressing dissatisfaction with the ongoing police investigation. Family members had recently met Chief Minister Satheesan and sought an independent inquiry, arguing that the circumstances leading to the senior officer’s death required a more comprehensive investigation. The Chief Minister had assured the family that their request would be considered.

The case revolves around the death of Naveen Babu following allegations made against him during his farewell function in Kannur. CPI(M) leader and former Kannur District Panchayat President P.P. Divya is the sole accused in the case.

During the farewell event, Divya allegedly made accusations that Naveen Babu had accepted a bribe in connection with granting approval for a petrol pump. The allegations triggered a major controversy. Soon after the incident, Naveen Babu was found dead, with investigators treating the case as a suicide.

The police subsequently registered a case against Divya under charges of abetment to suicide. The investigation also examined claims that certain documents related to a partnership arrangement submitted by a petrol pump applicant had gone missing.

The Cabinet’s decision has drawn criticism from the CPI(M), which has opposed the transfer of the case to the CBI. Party leaders argue that the Kerala High Court had earlier observed that the police investigation was proceeding in the right direction. They contend that the decision to involve the CBI is politically motivated and accuse the UDF government of placing excessive reliance on central agencies.

With the case now set to move to the CBI, the focus will shift to whether the central agency uncovers fresh evidence or expands the scope of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Naveen Babu’s death.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman