Kerala court denies bail to former Kannur panchayat chief in abetment to suicide case

Kerala court on Tuesday negative anticipatory bail for former Kannur district panchayat president PP Divya, who was accused of making comments that drove Naveen Babu, additional district judge, to commit suicide, Bar and bench reported.

A member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was accused of abetting Babu’s suicide.

Babu was there found dead at his residence on the morning of October 15, after a farewell party organized on the eve of his transfer to another district. He was to take over as additional district judge of Pathanamthitta and retire after seven months.

During the event, Divya leveled corruption charges against Babu in the context of delay in issuing no-objection certificate in the petrol pump case. The district panchayat president alleged that Babu issued no-objection certificates only after he was bribed.

On October 17, Divya was accused of abetting Babu’s suicide released from her post.

She filed a bail application before the Thalassery Sessions Court.

In her application, Divya stated that her remarks at the farewell function were made in good faith and were not intended to put pressure on Babu. The comments were made to improve administrative efficiency and address corruption concerns raised by others, Bar and bench she quoted her conclusion.

Prosecutor K Ajith Kumar had opposed Divya’s earlier bail application, saying the remarks amounted to a public embarrassment that could have had a profound impact on Babu.

The prosecution claimed that Divya’s the intention was to defame Babu and put public pressure on him, Indian reported.