Kannur: A day after CPI(M) leader and district Panchayat president PP Divya was removed from her official responsibilities, a department-level probe has been initiated by the district authorities over the death of ADM Naveen Babu who was found dead a day after a farewell meet that was conducted where PP Divya had made allegations of corruption against him.
Geetha A, Joint Commissioner of Land Revenue who had already taken the statement of district collector Arun K Vijayan. The statement collection went on for nearly an hour at his office in Kannur. Arun had earlier told the media that he did not organize the farewell nor did he invite anyone for the function, a claim that PP Divya had rejected. Divya had informed in her anticipatory bail plea that she had gone there as she was invited by the district collector.
The investigation will look into the sequence of events leading to the loss of life of the former ADM Kannur, including the allegations raised by former District Panchayat President P P Divya against the ADM. The Government has directed Geetha A to ascertain whether Divya has produced any evidence in support of her allegations. As part of the probe, the official will scrutinize the files related to the issuance of No Objection Certificate that was issued for the petrol pump and submit her findings based on the file movement, noting, and the time taken in issuance of the NoC for any undue and inordinate delay in comparison to the average time taken for issuance of NoC, according to the order. The file related to issuance of NoC will be examined for evidence or indication of any wrong doing.
The NoC issued by Naveen Babu showed that he had downplayed the curve factor on the road contrary to allegations of P P Divya who blamed him for delaying the NoC for the petrol pump, citing a curve on the road. However, Prashanth, the complainant has reiterated the statements that he had to pay bribe to the ADM to attain permission for the fuel station to be constructed in Chengalayi in Kannur.
