Police Urge Court to Reject Plea for Fresh Probe into ADM Naveen Babu’s Death

Speedy Summary

• Kannur police submitted a report recommending dismissal of Manjusha’s plea for further investigation into the death of her husband, former Additional District Magistrate (ADM) K. Naveen Babu.
• The police asserted that all aspects of the case were thoroughly investigated and found sole accused, former district panchayat president P.P. Divya, guilty.
• Both Kerala High Court and Supreme Court had previously rejected similar petitions by Naveen Babu’s family to transfer the probe to the CBI, citing proper investigation by authorities.
• Divya’s lawyer argued that all evidence was collected and claimed the new plea was baseless and aimed at prolonging proceedings.
• Manjusha alleged bias in the probe, claiming it portrayed her husband as accepting a bribe while dismissing or distorting evidence favorable to him.
• Naveen Babu was found dead at his residence on october 15, 2024; a chargesheet named divya for abetment to suicide.
• The court adjourned further proceedings until August 23, 2025.

Indian Opinion Analysis
This case reflects ongoing concerns about public trust in institutional investigations and judicial outcomes in India. While law enforcement maintained that their investigation into ADM Naveen Babu’s death covered all aspects comprehensively and court rulings have supported this stance thus far, the persistence of counterclaims from affected parties like Manjusha points to deeper issues regarding confidence in due process and openness within high-profile cases.

The rejection from higher courts of transferring this probe to external bodies like CBI could be interpreted as an endorsement of local investigative integrity or viewed skeptically by those who question systemic accountability.

Regardless of outcome or delays caused by legal recourse sought by either party, such cases underscore a recurring need for clear communication between law enforcement agencies and impacted families-a step critical for instilling faith in judicial systems across diverse stakeholders.

Read more here: