THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: PP Divya, the former president of the Kannur district panchayat who is accused of abetting the suicide of ADM Jeevan Babu, will remain in the Women's Jail in Pallikkunnu.
The Thalassery district court will pronounce its verdict on Friday. Divya, who surrendered 14 days post the ADM's demise, faces charges of abetment to suicide and has been remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. The court heard the arguments from both defense and prosecution
Divya's lawyer contended that the ADM had accepted a bribe from Prashanth, a petrol pump applicant who was subsequently suspended. The ADM had telephoned Prashanth, and they had met, with footage available from KTDC's hotel.
He urged the court to consider bail, noting that Prashanth secured a gold loan of Rs 1 lakh from a cooperative bank on October 5, and both the ADM and Prashanth's mobile towers placed them at the same location on October 6, as indirect evidence.
In the counterargument, the prosecution questioned the possibility of accepting a bribe solely based on a phone call. Prashant's suspension was not only due to the bribery allegation but also for indiscipline.
How can the conversation between the ADM and Prashanth be considered proof of bribery?
What evidence supports the claim that Prashanth obtained a bank loan to pay a bribe? The only assertion of the bribe being paid comes from Prashanth himself.
The prosecution also mentioned that Naveen Babu, who joined the service at 19, has never faced bribery accusations. No delays occurred in the Kannur petrol pump file where the allegation surfaced. Hence, the question of corruption does not arise as there is no evidence or witnesses to confirm the payment of money.
The lawyer for Naveen Babu's family contended that the police engaged in a game of hide and seek by not arresting Divya following the ADM's death. They failed to take the statement of the ADM's wife. Despite being served notices twice, Divya did not cooperate with the investigation. The assertion that Divya had no intention of causing suicide is untrue, he stated.
