Naveen Babu's death; no evidence to suspect murder; report in High Court

KOCHI: The police have filed a counter-affidavit in the High Court stating that there is currently no evidence to suspect that the death of ADM Naveen Babu was a murder. The inquest was conducted in the presence of five neutrals as the relatives were late in arriving. Kannur Town SHO Sreejith Koderi, who is the investigating officer, filed the affidavit following a petition filed by Naveen's wife Manjusha seeking a CBI probe.

The phone call records of PP Divya and bribery complainant Prashanthan were examined. The investigation needs to be completed quickly and the accused should be arrested. There is no need for a CBI probe. The special investigation team is supervised by Kannur DIG. The North Zone IG is being informed about the progress of the investigation every two weeks.

The post-mortem revealed that Naveen had hanged himself. It is being investigated whether he was killed and hanged. There are no other injuries on the body. CCTV footage of Naveen leaving was collected from the collectorate, railway station and Muneeswaran Kovil. The inquest took place between 10.45 am and 11.45 am on October 15. Naveen Babu's relatives reached the spot around 11 pm on the 15th. The body was handed over to his brother Praveen Babu after the post-mortem.

Fingerprints were also collected. The call details of two of Naveen's phones were checked. Prashanthan's petrol pump application and bank account details were seized. Clear visuals of Naveen Babu's quarters could not be collected.

No suicide note found

• It is not mandatory that the inquest should be done in the presence of close relatives. There is a circular that the inquest should be conducted within five hours of the death.
• Naveen's brother had instructed the officials of the collectorate over the phone to complete the inquest as it was a 12-hour drive from Pathanamthitta.
• The allegation that the investigation is not going on properly as PP Divya has links with the CPM is false.
• No suicide note was found in the body and the room. It wasn't on the phones either.
• No evidence to link Prashanth to the case has been found so far.

PP Divya in finance standing committee

Former president PP Divya, accused in the Naveen Babu case, was included in one of the standing committees that were reconstituted after the election of a new president in Kannur district panchayat. Divya was included in the finance standing committee.

Ratnakumari, who was the chairperson of the standing committee on health education, had resigned from the post after becoming the district panchayat president. NV Sreejani, who was a member of the finance standing committee, will replace her. Divya was included in the standing committee on finance which fell vacant.

Divya reached the district panchayat yesterday after a long time to submit an application for the same. The election for the post of chairperson of the standing committee on health education will be held on the 11th. Chairman of Finance Standing Committee is the Vice President.