Congress, BJP echo the family’s demand for CBI enquiry into Naveen’s death

The parties raise the demand after the family express no confidence in the ongoing police enquiry in the High Court

Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday echoed the family’s demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) enquiry into the alleged death by suicide of former Additional District Magistrate, Kannur, Naveen Babu. 

The opposition parties raised the demand after Naveen’s family expressed no confidence in the ongoing police enquiry and demanded a CBI enquiry in the High Court. 

BJP State president K Surendran, who called on Naveen’s family in Pathanamthitta, accused the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of “betraying” them. 

He said the CPI(M) was running with the hare and hunting with the wolves. It had declared support for Naveen’s family to dodge public ire while clandestinely sabotaging the investigation to aid the prime accused and CPI(M) leader, P.P. Divya, the former Kannur district panchayat president. 

Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, accused CPI(M) of duplicity. Speaking to reporters in Ernakulam, Mr. Satheesan said CPI(M) State Secretary M.V. Govindan had sent party workers, allegedly including the latter’s wife, to receive and fete Ms. Divya when she stepped out on bail from the Kannur Women’s prison. 

Mr. Satheesan said Naveen’s family had serious apprehension that some influential persons with deep financial interests in Kannur had murdered Naveen and staged the crime as a suicide. “Navneen’s family had aired their suspicions before the High Court, and Congress endorsed them given the current stasis in the State police probe,” he said. 

Mr. Satheesan pointed out that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing Naveen’s death appeared loath to question Prasanth, an influential CPI(M) fellow traveller who “dubiously” accused the former ADM of corruption and allegedly prompted Ms. Divya to “censure” the officer during the latter’s send-off function at the District Collectorate, Kannur. 

Mr. Govindan said the matter was under the purview of the High Court. However, the CPI(M) has always maintained the CBI was the tool of those in power and had its wings clipped. He said the government’s action, including the institution of an SIT and removal of Ms. Divya from the post of Kannur district panchayat president, showed the party and State were on the side of the victim’s family. 

Published - November 27, 2024 07:14 pm IST