Kerala ADM death | A farewell, a death, and a political row

On October 15, 2024, a tragic incident occurred when M. Shamsudeen, a driver at the Kannur District Collectorate, found the outgoing Additional District Magistrate (ADM), K. Naveen Babu, dead at his official house. The events leading up to his suicide were marked by accusations of corruption and public humiliation by a district committee member. Babu’s death has sparked outrage and demands for accountability from political parties. However, the postmortem results confirmed suicide as the cause of death, with no note or evidence found at the scene. The incident serves as a tragic reminder of the impact of public scrutiny and the importance of mental health support. The Opposition in Kerala has turned the death of Naveen Babu into a major election issue, questioning the CPI(M) over the fairness of the investigation against Divya, a party member. Babu’s brother lodged a complaint against Divya, accusing her of tarnishing his brother’s reputation. Divya, who is accused of abetment of suicide, has been removed from her position and is currently in hiding, seeking anticipatory bail. The incident has exposed divisions within the CPI(M), with conflicting statements from different party members. The party’s youth wing supports Divya, while the leadership in Pathanamthitta stands by Babu’s family. A government official declared that he would quit if anyone could prove he accepted bribes. The CPI(M) party stood by the deceased official’s family and criticized a member for involving the media in a private matter. Confusion arose over who invited the person causing trouble at a farewell event. Angry protests and demands for investigation followed the official’s death. The deceased’s family wants a fair inquiry for justice. An inquiry has been initiated into the circumstances of the death. The report will be forwarded to the Chief Minister and the investigation team. Helpline numbers are provided for those in distress.