ADM’s suicide: Caught in dilemma, CPI(M) acts swiftly against Kannur district panchayat chief

Anyone familiar with the CPI(M)’s functioning in Kerala knows that the party typically follows a measured process to remove leaders from their posts in the wake of allegations, unless they are caught red-handed or involved in exceptionally serious misconduct.

However, in the case of Kannur District Panchayat president PP Divya, an emerging leader seen as a potential successor to stalwarts like KK Shailaja and PK Sreemathi, the party acted with unprecedented speed. As soon as the police named Divya as an accused in the case of abetting the suicide of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu, the party’s district secretariat swiftly decided to remove her from the position, bypassing the usual formal inquiry process.

Also Read: Kerala: Additional DM of Kannur found dead following corruption charge

Party in a bind

The party found itself in an unexpected dilemma, as the family of the deceased ADM, Naveen Babu, who was a native of Pathanamthitta, has close ties with the CPI(M). Complicating matters further, the Pathanamthitta district committee of the party took a firm stance against Divya’s actions. In response, the Kannur faction of the party quickly distanced itself from her, leading to her removal from the post without delay.

When Divya attended the farewell ceremony for the ADM on October 14, no one could have predicted that this event would spark a political storm in the days to come.

The remarks made by Divya at the event sparked a massive row after ADM Naveen Babu, allegedly humiliated by her comments, took his own life. Divya, who was not officially invited to the function, took the microphone and delivered a veiled attack on the ADM. The tragedy that followed her speech unleashed a political storm, fuelling public outrage and escalating tension across the district.

Veiled attack

In her speech, Divya accused the ADM of corruption related to the issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for a petrol pump. Addressing the gathering, which was attended by the district collector, Divya spoke about the importance of integrity in public service, pointedly referring to actions allegedly undertaken by Naveen Babu.

Divya disclosed her interactions with the ADM, claiming that she had contacted him multiple times regarding an NOC for a petrol pump in Chengalayi. “I asked him to visit the site, and he later informed me that he had done so. However, the applicant repeatedly complained about delays,” she said.

She further alleged that the ADM had initially cited inappropriate location as a reason for withholding the NOC but later approved it before his transfer. “While it’s good that the NOC was eventually granted, I know exactly how it was obtained,” she remarked, adding sarcastically, “I am here to thank him for that.” Concluding her speech, Divya hinted that the official was likely to face repercussions soon.

Complaint to CMO?

After Naveen Babu’s death, the situation took a dramatic turn when the complainant, who had applied for a petrol pump license, publicly alleged that he had paid Rs 98,500 in cash as a bribe to the ADM. He lodged a complaint with the chief minister on October 10. However, the chief minister’s office has denied ever receiving such a complaint.

Also Read: Naveen Babu death: Kerala Human Rights Commission seeks report

This accusation starkly contrasted with the reputation of Babu, an upright officer respected by leaders and administrators across party lines. The overwhelming support from bureaucrats and even CPI(M) leaders for Naveen Babu added to the pressure on both Divya and the complainant, Prasanthan TV.

Prasanthan, notably, is a CPI(M) member who has close connection with the district leadership of the party. However, despite these connections, Divya found herself without the party’s protection. With mounting pressure, she was forced to seek anticipatory bail from the court, even though the police had not yet initiated any formal arrest proceedings against her.

The CPI(M) state secretary, who had been in Delhi, visited the home of Naveen Babu and reaffirmed the party’s unwavering support for his family during this difficult time. “Whether it's the party in Kannur, Pathanamthitta, or Kerala as a whole, the party's stance is the same,” the CPI(M) state secretary said.

Backing ADM’s kin

Talking about the steps taken by the CPI(M) in response to public protests, he said the party removed Divya from her position as president of the Kannur district panchayat without delay. He added that the party's Kannur district secretary, MV Jayarajan, had accompanied Babu's body from Kannur. “As the state secretary of the CPI(M), I am stating that the party is with the family. We will fully support whatever actions are necessary for the investigation,” he said.

Though the CPI(M) in Kannur has removed Divya from her post, the party is not entirely satisfied with how events have unfolded. The leadership does not find merit in the allegations that Divya is engaged in benami dealings with the complainant but is deeply dissatisfied with her handling of the situation. They believe she concealed critical information from the party and attempted to stage a spectacle by abruptly entering the farewell function and publicly challenging the ADM. This approach, they feel, was inappropriate and detrimental to the party’s reputation.

“The allegations against Divya and her husband, Ajith Kumar, who is a colleague of the complainant at Pariyaram Medical College, are unfounded. They are merely political opponents exploiting the situation. However, her attitude and approach were entirely wrong. It was unbecoming of a political leader of her stature. She presented herself as a tough leader with zero tolerance for corruption, adopting a holier-than-thou attitude, which ultimately led to her downfall,” remarked a senior party leader from Kannur. “The damage this has caused to the party is significant, especially given that we are in an election period. The inflated egos of leaders can be detrimental to the party's overall prospects,” added the party leader.

Promising career

Divya, who had every potential to be named a candidate for any constituency in Kannur district for the 2026 elections, especially as prominent figures like KK Shailaja and even Pinarayi Vijayan would fall outside the party's eligibility criteria regarding age and tenure as MLAs, was once viewed as a rising star. As the District Panchayat chief, she garnered multiple awards for her outstanding performance in the state, reinforcing her reputation as a capable leader.

Also Read: Daughters perform last rites in tearful adieu to Kannur ADM

The police inquiry into the matter is ongoing, and they have collected evidence related to the allegations and counter-allegations. At this point, they have not found any concrete evidence of money changing hands between Prasanthan and the ADM. However, video evidence has surfaced showing Prasanthan visiting the ADM at his official residence on the specified date.

On the other hand, several indications have emerged suggesting that the ADM did not delay the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the petrol pump. This has led to numerous questions regarding the complainant’s motives and Divya’s outburst during the farewell function.