Kerala official accused of wrongdoing at farewell event, found dead at home

A day after his farewell ceremony, Kannur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu was found dead in his quarters in Kerala on Tuesday. The police reported that Babu, who was set to assume his new role as ADM in his home district of Pathanamthitta, was discovered hanging in his residence on Tuesday morning.
The incident follows a controversial farewell event held in Kannur, where Babu faced public allegations from District Panchayat President P P Divya.
Despite not being officially invited, Divya, a member of the ruling CPI(M), attended the event and accused the ADM of delaying approval for a petrol pump project in Chengalai for several months. She claimed that Babu had only granted approval two days after receiving his transfer orders.
During her speech, Divya hinted at knowing the reasons behind this sudden approval and suggested more details would emerge in the coming days. Speaking in front of the District Collector and other officials, Divya’s remarks cast a shadow over the farewell ceremony. Following her speech, she refused to stay for the presentation of a memento and exited the event.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding Babu’s death, which has left colleagues and officials in shock.