Naveen Babu's death: Possibility of murder should also be investigated, High Court direction to special police team

KOCHI: Although the High Court did not allow Naveen Babu's wife K Manjusha's demand for a CBI probe into his death, the High Court directed a Special Police Team (SIT) to investigate the petitioner's suspicion that the ADM might have been killed and hanged.

The investigation should be completed in a timely manner under the supervision of DIG Kannur Range. The information should be accurately reported to the DIG. The petitioner should also be informed about the progress of the investigation. A draft of the final report should be submitted to the DIG. Disposing of Manjusha's plea, the court ordered that the report should be submitted to the court only after the DIG gives permission.

The petitioner pointed out that the blood stain on Naveen's underwear was found during the inquest, but the postmortem report did not mention this. However, the court also pointed out the doctor's explanation in the case diary that the cause of the blood stain could be due to urinary stones. Naveen was found dead in his quarters in Kannur on October 15. PP Divya, the former president of Kannur Zilla Panchayat, who was arrested for inciting suicide, is now on bail.

'Inquest in presence of five independent witnesses'

• The High Court said that the investigation of the accused PP Divya cannot be handed over to the CBI just because she is connected to the ruling party
• The scientific assistant and the fingerprint expert had arrived first. The inquest was attended by five independent witnesses
• It is not practical to keep the dead body until the relatives come from Pathanamthitta. Relatives arrived after 15 hours only
• A body search must be conducted within five hours of death. The presence of relatives is not necessary for that, the court said

Division Bench will be approached: Manjusha

PATHANAMTHITTA: Naveen Babu's wife Manjusha said that she is disappointed that the High Court rejected the petition seeking a CBI investigation. “Will approach the division bench against the high court judgment. Flaw in the investigation has been pointed out. The police have not been able to prove the actual facts that led to the death. The decision is to move forward to get justice."

"The verdict caused a lot of pain. The decision is to file an appeal. We believe that justice will be served"

-Adv Praveen Babu

Naveen's brother