KANNUR: Naveen Babu, the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Kannur, was found dead in his official residence on the morning of October 15, just hours before he was scheduled to leave for his new posting in Pathanamthitta. Babu was due to board a train on Monday night, following his transfer to Ranni, near his hometown in Pathanamthitta district. His sudden death, reportedly by suicide, has sparked a wave of protests, with many pointing to the alleged humiliation he suffered at the hands of PP Divya, a CPM leader and District Panchayat President, just a day earlier.
The tragic incident occurred in the wake of serious allegations raised by Divya during a farewell event for Naveen Babu on October 14 at the Kannur Collectorate. According to reports, Divya, who was not officially invited to the ceremony, stormed into the event and delivered a scathing speech, accusing Babu of corruption and misconduct during his tenure as ADM in Kannur. Divya’s remarks were made in front of senior officials, including District Collector Arun K. Vijayan, and were widely perceived as a public humiliation. She allegedly warned that Babu should not repeat his actions in his new role and hinted that her party’s workers would keep an eye on him wherever he went, which many interpreted as a veiled threat.
Divya claimed that Babu had violated rules and suggested that she had evidence to back up her allegations, though no details were provided at the time. The accusations came as a shock to those present, particularly given Babu’s imminent departure from Kannur and his reputation as a dedicated officer.
Naveen Babu, who was scheduled to take charge as Pathanamthitta’s ADM on October 17, never made it to his new post. Neighbors reportedly assumed that he had left for Pathanamthitta on the night of October 14, as his residence remained dark throughout the night. However, it wasn’t until the next morning that his body was discovered, leading to widespread speculation that the alleged public humiliation played a role in his death.
The incident has sparked outrage among political circles, with the BJP and Congress staging protests against Divya’s actions. Both parties accused the CPM leader of overstepping her role and humiliating a senior government official in an inappropriate setting. Protestors demanded Divya’s resignation as District Panchayat President, with BJP workers going as far as burning an effigy of her. The protests led to tense standoffs with police, who intervened to maintain order. Protestors also called for Divya’s arrest, accusing her of abetment of suicide.
In addition to political parties, non-gazetted officers in Kannur also took to the streets to voice their anger. Led by both Congress-aligned and Sangh-inspired groups, the officers rallied against Divya’s actions, condemning her interference in administrative affairs and the public shaming of Naveen Babu.
Naveen Babu’s death has also drawn attention to his long-standing association with the CPM. Both Babu and his wife, a Tehsildar, were known to be active members of CPM-controlled service organizations, and Babu himself had a history with the CPM’s student wing, the Students Federation of India (SFI). His mother had even contested local elections as a CPM candidate in the late 1970s. Given these connections, many find it difficult to believe that Babu would be involved in the corruption allegations leveled against him by Divya.
The specific allegation against Babu revolves around a purported demand for a bribe from one Prashanth, a relative of a senior CPM functionary, in exchange for issuing a no-objection certificate (NOC) for a petrol station. Critics have dismissed the claim as implausible, arguing that a corrupt official would not resort to suicide over such accusations, especially given Babu’s known ties to the party.
Kerala’s Revenue Minister, K. Rajan, who is also a leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI), a key ally of the CPM in the Left Democratic Front (LDF), stated that his ministry had not received any formal complaints against Naveen Babu. Rajan, along with other CPM and CPI leaders, described Babu as a straightforward and efficient officer, further casting doubt on the legitimacy of Divya’s allegations.
In the days leading up to his transfer, Babu had reportedly expressed frustration over being moved from Kannur. Sources close to him revealed that he had sent messages to friends stating that CPM-controlled service organizations had lobbied for him to remain in Kannur, recognizing his dedication and efficiency. His abrupt transfer to Pathanamthitta, therefore, came as a surprise and may have added to his distress.
In the aftermath of his death, there have been reports of cyberattacks targeting Babu, a tactic often associated with CPM supporters to discredit individuals involved in controversies linked to the party.
The tragic incident has reignited concerns about the high-handedness of CPM leaders in Kerala. Divya, in particular, has been a controversial figure, previously drawing criticism for her inflammatory social media posts against national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.
