ADM Naveen Babu's Wife Moves Appeal Before Kerala High Court Seeking CBI Probe Into Husband's Death

PP Divya, a member of Communist Party of India (Marxist) which has currently formed government in Kerala is accused of abetting Babu's suicide by humiliating him in public, during his farewell function.

ADM Naveen Babu was found hanging in his official quarters on October 15, 2024. Babu's wife claimed homicidal angle to the incident and alleged that due to her political influence, Divya is receiving assistance from the police to fabricate evidence in her favour.

The writ appeal has been filed stating that the CBI probe was refused without considering the flaws and discrepancies in the present investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) . It is stated that the investigation lacks credibility and alleged that the accused would influence witnesses and destroy evidence due to having ties with the ruling political party. It is also stated that the Court ought to have considered this as a rare and exceptional case for ordering CBI probe.

On January 6 the high court had refused to order CBI probe. In this order pertaining to the writ petition seeking CBI probe, the High Court had observed that the accused merely having ties with the ruling political dispensation was not ground to transfer investigation to the CBI. The Court had also stated that the appellant could not point to any material flaw in the current investigation, warranting a CBI probe.

In the writ appeal, it is stated that the accused is not only having mere allegiance to the ruling political party, but is an influential prominent leader of the ruling party. It is also stated that there is a deep rooted suspicion that this is a homicide based on the conspiracy of the accused, and District Collector of Kannur and another person who is the friend of the accused's husband. It is stated that even after raising suspicion of homicide, the SIT has not investigated this aspect. It is stated that there should be investigation into the larger conspiracy behind the death of her husband.

It is also stated that the present investigation conducted by the SIT does not instil confidence in the family. The appellant is also alleging slackness in investigation and stated that there is lack of seriousness, with several crucial aspects being overlooked, which could lead to a miscarriage of justice. 

The plea has been moved by Senior Advocate S Sreekumar, Advocates P.Martin Jose, P.Prijith, Thomas P.Kuruvilla, R.Githesh, Ajay Ben Jose, Manjunath Menon, Sachin Jacob Ambat, Saju Wahab, Harikrishnan S., Anavadya Sanil Kumar, Anjali Krishna, Anna Linda Eden

Case Title: Manjusha K v CBI

Case No: WA 193/2025