Kannur: The Land Revenue Joint Commissioner A. Geetha, who took charge of the continuing investigation into the death of ADM Naveen Babu, arrived at the Kannur Collectorate to record the statement of Collector Arun K. Vijayan.
The collector has expressed his willingness to cooperate fully with the investigation and welcomed the inquiry. He also assured the investigation team that he would reveal all necessary information. Meanwhile, there are reports of growing pressure on the revenue department to transfer the collector. It is learned that the revenue department will make a decision after consultations with the Chief Minister and other officials. Additionally, KSU Vice President Muhammad Shammas has submitted a complaint to the Chief Minister demanding action against the collector.
Naveen Babu’s family also holds a critical stance towards the collector. Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan and BJP Kannur District President N. Haridas have accused the collector of summoning Divya to the ADM’s farewell ceremony. The BJP has sent letters to the central home and personnel ministries requesting an investigation into the collector’s involvement in the matter.
The CPI is also reportedly dissatisfied with the collector’s actions. Party leaders who attended the CPI state executive meeting on Thursday night conveyed their concerns directly to Revenue Minister K. Rajan. It is alleged that the controversial farewell meeting was organized by the collector, despite ADM Naveen Babu’s opposition to the event. The collector had initially scheduled the meeting for Monday morning but later postponed it to the evening. The postponement was allegedly to accommodate P.P. Divya, as neither the collector nor Naveen Babu had any inconvenience in attending the morning session. Critics further claim that when Divya leveled allegations against the ADM during the meeting, the collector did nothing to intervene.
In light of these accusations, the pressure on the revenue department to transfer the collector has intensified. BJP leaders have also written to central ministries demanding an inquiry into the collector’s involvement in the controversial farewell meeting. CPI leaders expressed their displeasure with the collector’s handling of the situation directly to the revenue minister during a meeting on Thursday night. The ADM’s family and the opposition parties demand further scrutiny into the collector’s role in the incident.
