SIT constituted to investigate the circumstances of Kannur ADM’s death

Kannur (Kerala): The Kerala Police on Friday constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the alleged suicide of former additional district magistrate of Kannur, Naveen Babu, whose death sparked political turmoil in the southern state. Amid widespread accusations, including from the opposition Congress-led UDF, leveled at the state government and the ruling CPI(M) of protecting those behind Babu’s suicide, the police formed an SIT headed by Ajit Kumar, district police chief of Kannur city , to investigate the material matter.

The team will work under the direct supervision of DIG, Kannur Range, said the order issued by the Inspector General of Police, Zonal Office (North), Kozhikode. The other members of SIT are: Rethnakumar, ACP Kannur, Sreejith Kodery, IPSHO, Kannur Town PS, Sanal Kumar – IPSHO, Kannur City PS, Savyasachi, SI, Kannur Town PS, Reshma, SI, Vanitha PS and Sreejith, ASI, Cyber ​​​​Cell, the order said. Babu’s suicide came hours after CPM leader PP Divya’s remarks linking him to corruption during a farewell meeting organized at the district collectorate in Kannur. Divya alleged that he was involved in corrupt practices related to the sanctioning of the National Olympic Committee over a petrol pump in Kannur district.

Attending his farewell function on October 14 without an invitation, Divya criticized Babu for delaying the approval of a petrol pump in Chengalai for several months and noted that he had given his approval just two days after the transfer, hinting that she knew the reasons for the sudden approval. The next day, Babu was found dead in his quarters in Kannur. Amid the raging row over his death, the Marxist party removed Divya as president of the Kannur district panchayat.