ADM Naveen Babu death: PP Divya granted bail with six conditions

Kannur: Thalassery sessions court on Friday granted bail to former Kannur district panchayat president P P Divya, who was under judicial custody in the case related to the death of Additional District Magistrate K Naveen Babu.

Judge K T Nisar Ahammed observed that the prosecution could bring the case to the exception of withholding bail and to keep the petitioner( Divya) in jail. The court observed that further incarceration of Divya was not required in the case and she can be granted bail. Bail was granted with strict conditions.

The Court laid down as many as six conditions for bail. It was ordered to execute a bond of Rs 1 lakh with two solvent sureties each for the sum. Divya will have to appear before the investigating officer every Monday between 10 am and 11 am until further orders. She can't leave the district without the permission of the jurisdictional court. " The petitioner shall not leave the district without the permission of the jurisdictional court and shall not influence or in any way contact witnesses in the case. The petitioner shall surrender her passport and if not having passport, file an affidavit to the effect before the jurisdictional court, within one week of release from jail," according to the Court order. 

"The court's decision is unexpected," Naveen’s wife, Manjusha, said following the verdict. She had opposed the bail application and joined the plea as a party. Amid allegations that Manjusha's statement was not recorded before the bail hearing, authorities have now decided to record her statement in Pathanamthitta within the next two days.

Divya is presently held at the Pallikkunnu Women’s Jail. She surrendered after the Thalassery Principal Sessions Court denied her anticipatory bail in the case registered by the Town Police. The CPM removed her from all elected party posts on Thursday as part of disciplinary action.

An investigative report from the Director of Medical Education indicates that Prasanth, a businessman, had allegedly bribed the ADM to gain NoC for a fuel pump. According to a statement by Collector Arun Vijayan, Naveen Babu admitted that he committed a 'mistake' after being snubbed by Divya at the farewell meeting. Prasanth reportedly confirmed to the police that he bribed the ADM for the NoC, and the defence argued that CCTV footage substantiates meetings between the ADM and Prasanth.

The prosecution, however, opposed Divya’s bail, arguing she could influence witnesses if released. They claimed there was no conclusive evidence against the ADM in the bribery accusation and denied any delay by the ADM in issuing the NoC. Representing the ADM’s family, the lawyer asserted that Divya did not cooperate with the investigation and questioned the accuracy of Divya's claim about the ADM’s confession to the Collector, who was reportedly not close to Naveen. 

PP Divya surrendered 14 days after the ADM’s death, having been charged with abetment of suicide. Earlier, her anticipatory bail plea had been dismissed by the court. Naveen Babu was found dead in his official residence a day after his farewell meeting, in which Divya made accusatory comments against him.