Minister Rajan clears ex-ADM Naveen of graft allegations

T'puram/Kochi: Revenue minister K Rajan said that his department's internal enquiry into allegations against former Kannur additional district magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu found no adverse findings. Investigators examined whether Babu intentionally delayed files or engaged in corrupt practices and later filed a report that both allegations were untrue.
Rajan was responding to media reports on joint commissioner of land revenue A Geetha's findings in her report. "Revenue department conducted an internal probe and the govt concluded the matter after reviewing her report. Police are investigating other aspects and the agency investigating the death of the ex-ADM can use the findings of the revenue department," he said.
Rajan said that the department cannot investigate the conspiracy angle as it falls under the police department's jurisdiction. He expressed surprise that the police had ignored his department's probe findings.
Declining further comments, Rajan said that the matter is sub judice and that, as a minister, he won't make special statements. He expressed hope that Babu's family would get justice after the investigation concludes and suggested that further examination would be necessary if that is not the case.
According to the testimonies in Geetha's report, then Kannur district panchayat president PP Divya orchestrated the public humiliation of Babu during his farewell party. Before the event, Divya's assistant contacted collector Arun K Vijayan's staff four times. Representatives of a local cable TV channel in Kannur gave a statement that they received a request to film the event and give a copy of that video to Divya. On the day of the event, Divya claimed that she arrived at the event by chance.
Meanwhile, opposition leader VD Satheesan demanded a proper probe into Babu's death and said that multiple individuals conspired and put pressure on Babu to commit suicide. He alleged that Divya attended Babu's farewell event uninvited, publicly humiliated him there, widely circulated that event video and pushed an honest person to commit suicide.
He criticized CPM for merely removing Divya from her district panchayat president post without further action. He also refuted claims that the petrol pump belonged to TV Prashanthan, an employee at Pariyaram Medical College and asked the police to reveal the true owner.
"For whom did Divya act in this manner? What motivated her to insist on immediate approval for the petrol pump? Why did CPM leaders fear Divya when she was in prison? Whose proxy money was used to build the pump?" he asked.
He further alleged that if Divya disclosed certain information, it could jeopardize CPM, suggesting that key leaders attempted to placate her. Satheesan said that CPM and the govt were responsible for Babu's death and the subsequent cover-up attempts. He insisted that the revenue department's report be included in the police investigation and warned that any sabotage of the case would be made public