CPM leader in custody after Kerala court rejects bail plea in ADM death case

Former Kannur district panchayat president and CPM leader PP Divya was taken into custody by the police on Tuesday, October 29, after her anticipatory bail was denied by a local court.
Thalassery Principal Sessions Court issued the order earlier in the day, in the case related to the death of Kannur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu.
Speaking to the media, Kannur Police Commissioner Ajith Kumar said: “She has been taken into custody. Now we will do the required processes. She will be questioned and then further action will be taken.”
When asked where she would be brought for questioning, he said, “It is a case under Kannur police station, she will be brought here.”
Responding to why the police hadn’t taken any action so far, he said: “We didn’t want to take any steps in a case that was under active judicial consideration.”
After the court denied her bail, the police promptly took her into custody, Ajith Kumar said.
Divya had moved the Thalassery Sessions Court on October 19, seeking anticipatory bail after the police registered a case against her for abetting Babu’s suicide.
Although the CPM state secretariat did not initiate any party-level action against her, she was removed as the district panchayat president. The decision was taken by the party’s Kannur district secretariat immediately after the police registered a case against her.
Babu was found dead at his official quarters in Kannur the day Divya publicly accused him of corruption at his send-off function.
At Babu’s send-off function on October 14, Divya, who reportedly came uninvited to the event, spoke disparagingly about Babu. She criticised him for delaying for months the approval of a petrol pump in Chengalayi, and questioning his integrity over issuing a no-objection certificate (NOC) to it just two days after being transferred.
During her anticipatory bail hearing, Divya told the court that her remarks against the ADM were based on corruption complaints she had received about him. Her lawyer said that the Kannur District Collector had informed her about Babu’s farewell ceremony and asked if she would attend, to which she agreed.
However, the prosecution presented the District Collector’s statement, which indicated Divya was not invited and was specifically asked not to raise corruption allegations at the event.
Babu’s family lawyer, along with the prosecution, opposed Divya’s bail, noting that she had been removed as District Panchayat President by the CPM after being booked for allegedly abetting the ADM’s suicide. The prosecution argued that Divya’s actions were “pre-planned” and said she could tamper with evidence. The prosecution also told the court that she was not cooperating with the Revenue Department’s investigation.
Babu’s family welcomed the court’s decision. Reacting to the verdict, Babu’s widow Manjusha said: “The person responsible for destroying our lives must be arrested, and we will go to any lengths to ensure justice.”