HC reserves its order on appeal for CBI probe into Naveen Babu’s death

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on an appeal filed by Manjusha, widow of Naveen Babu, a former Kannur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) against a single judge’s order rejecting her plea for a CBI probe into the death of her husband.

The Bench comprising Justice P.B.Suresh Kumar and Justice Jobin Sebastian reserved the verdict after the conclusion of arguments on the appeal. According to her, her plea was refused by the single judge without taking into account the apparent flaws and discrepancies in the present investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Counsel for the appellant submitted that the investigation by the SIT might not be impartial as the accused Divya was very influential and prominent leader of a ruling party. In fact, the SIT team consisted of the local police personnel. It would have been better if the investigation was conducted by the crime branch, the counsel argued.