Kerala HC rejects plea for CBI inquiry into ADM Naveen Babu’s death

Kochi, PTI: The Kerala High Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking a CBI probe into the death of former Kannur Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu. Justice Kauser Edappagath rejected the plea filed by Babu’s widow seeking to transfer the ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into her husband’s alleged suicide to the CBI.

The court also ordered the DIG, Kannur Range, to scrupulously monitor and oversee the investigation being conducted by the SIT of Kerala Police and ensure that it proceeds properly, effectively and legally. “The SIT shall submit the periodical reports to the DIG showing the progress of the investigation,” the order said. However, the court also directed the SIT to investigate the possibility of a homicidal hanging as apprehended by Babu’s widow and to consider and probe into the grievances highlighted by her. Besides, the SIT should inform the progress of the investigation to the petitioner as contemplated under Section 193(3)(ii) of BNSS, the order stated.

“The SIT shall carry out and complete the investigation swiftly, efficaciously, with due diligence, and in a free and fair manner,” the order said. After the completion of the investigation, the draft final report shall be submitted before the DIG for vetting and approval and the final report shall be filed only after getting approval from the DIG, it added.

The counsel for Babu’s widow highlighted certain discrepancies between the inquest report and the autopsy report about the presence of bloodstains in the undergarment of the deceased and the ligature marks to suggest the possibility of a homicide.