Kerala ADM who died by suicide day after criticism from CPI(M) leader an ‘upright officer’, says CPI minister as death sparks political storm

“As far as I know, he was an honest officer, who would be assigned any responsibility with confidence. He was left with around seven months of service and wanted to work in home district Pathanamthitta. Hence, he was transferred from Kannur. I have not got any complaint against him. The district collector was told to conduct a probe,” Rajan, whose CPI is part of the state’s ruling Left Democratic Front government, said.

Although Divya was not invited for Babu’s farewell function, she attended it and criticised him over a delay in issuing a “no-objection certificate” for a fuel station, before leaving the function mid-way.

On Tuesday, the civil servant’s death kicked up a political storm, with the Opposition Congress and BJP demanding Divya’s arrest.

Kerala Leader of Opposition, Congress’s V D Satheesan, described the incident as “shocking”. “Divya had insulted the ADM. The suicide is equal to murder. Even Opposition parties or employees affiliated to opposition parties had never raised any corruption charges against the ADM,” he said.

In Kannur, youth outfits of opposition parties held protest marches to the office of the district panchayat seeking the CPI(M) leader’s resignation. Pro-Congress employees at the district collectorate protested and waylaid the district collector Arun K Vijayan.

BJP state president K Surendran called for Divya’s arrest, saying: “She was not invited to the send-off function. She deliberately went to the function with the intention to insult the ADM.”

The CP(M) has so far maintained silence on the issue. However, the party Kannur district secretariat issued a statement saying that Divya should have refrained from making the remarks at the send-off meeting.

“The ADM’s death was unfortunate. What she had stated at the send-off meeting was a well-intentioned criticism against corruption. People normally share their experiences with their representatives. The district president should have avoided her statements even if her reaction reflected people’s woes,” the statement said.

Babu joined state government service as lower division clerk in the revenue department and went on to become the district additional magistrate. He is survived by wife Manjusha, a tehsildar at Konni in Pathanamthitta, and two daughters, both students. His parents Kittan Nair and mother Rathnamma were school teachers.

Their family has traditionally been CPI(M) supporters, with a few members serving as party functionaries in recent years. Babu’s mother Rathnamma had served as a member of Malayalapuzha panchayat four decades ago after her retirement as a teacher.

Their distant relative and CPI(M) Pathanamthitta district committee member Mohan Malayalappuzha said Babu faced baseless allegations. “If the party does not conduct an inquiry against Kannur district panchayat president PP Divya, we will take our own legal action. Her conduct and attending Monday’s send-off without an invitation was mysterious. Babu has never faced an allegation. He had an impeccable track record in government service,” he said.