No need to favor or ignore PP Divya: MV Jayarajan takes neutral stand on ADM's death

CPM Kannur district secretary MV Jayarajan on Sunday took a neutral stand against PP Divya, who is accused of abetting the alleged suicide of Kannur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu. Speaking at the CPM area committee here in Peringome, Jayarajan asserted that there was “no need to favor or ignore Divya”, underscoring the party’s call for a thorough investigation into the allegations against her.

“This is not about siding with the ADM family or former CPM district committee president PP Divya,” he stated. “The ADM family has suffered a loss and they are grieving. The party respects their grief and has already made an organizational decision in this regard.” Jayarajan wondered how the CPM could overlook Divya, especially if she had accepted the party’s decision.

The CPM had earlier removed Divya from all elected posts in the party as a disciplinary measure after the case was registered against her following Naveen Babu’s death. Jayarajan criticized the media for circulating statements purporting to be from Divya which he said she had never made. He also noted conflicting accounts of the bribery allegations surrounding the ADM, suggesting that there are two versions of events.

Naveen Babu was found dead at his official residence in Kannur soon after his farewell function, during which Divya allegedly accused him of taking bribes from businessman Prashanth in exchange for a no objection certificate (NoC) for a petrol station. According to an investigation report by the director of medical education, Prashanth confirmed the bribery claims and CCTV footage supported his meetings with the ADM. Divya was granted bail by the Thalassery court and left jail on Friday after spending 11 days in Pallikkunnu women’s jail.