The family of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu, who was found hanging at his official quarters in Kannur, has filed a defamation suit against former Kannur District Panchayat President P.P. Divya and TV Prasanthan for allegedly making false bribery allegations.
In their plea, the family alleged that Divya and Prasanthan attempted to portray the late ADM as a corrupt officer. They have sought compensation of ₹65 lakh. The Pathanamthitta Sub Court is scheduled to hear the case on November 11. Earlier, the police had charged Divya with abetting Naveen Babu’s suicide.
The case stems from a complaint filed earlier by Prasanthan, who had alleged that Naveen Babu delayed issuing a no-objection certificate for a petrol pump and later granted it after taking a bribe of ₹98,500.
Following these allegations, Divya allegedly humiliated Naveen Babu during his farewell function at the Kannur Collectorate. According to the family’s complaint, Babu took his own life, deeply distressed by the incident.
Naveen Babu was found dead at his official quarters in Kannur on October 15, 2024, a day after being publicly humiliated by Divya at the farewell function.
Divya, who was then serving as the Kannur District Panchayat President, had attended the event without an invitation and made corruption allegations against the ADM.