The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition filed by Manjusha K, the wife of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu from Kerala, seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into his death.
A bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K Vinod Chandran upheld the Kerala High Court’s earlier decision and found no sufficient grounds to interfere or direct a CBI investigation into the matter.
Senior Advocate Sunil Fernandes, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, submitted that Naveen Babu had served the government for 30 years with an impeccable record and was nearing retirement, with only seven months of service left. As he was scheduled to be transferred from Kannur to his home district, a farewell event was held in his honor. During this function, PP Divya, a leader from the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist), allegedly made derogatory and baseless remarks against Babu.
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Following the event, a video containing unverified allegations was widely circulated. According to the petitioner, this led to severe mental distress for Babu. Despite this, he reportedly instructed his driver to pick him up the next morning to catch a train to his home district. Tragically, he was found dead in his official quarters the next day.
“Doesn’t mean one commits suicide for that, right? This is very... You can't... abetment of suicide in every case,”
– Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia remarked, in response to the claims linking the public remarks to Babu’s death.
Naveen Babu was discovered hanging in his official residence on October 15, 2024. His wife raised serious concerns about the circumstances surrounding his death and suspected that the incident might not be a suicide but a case involving foul play. She alleged that due to the political influence of PP Divya, only an independent and unbiased investigation by the CBI or the Crime Branch could ensure justice.
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Initially, she filed a writ petition in the Kerala High Court requesting a CBI probe. However, on February 6, the Single Judge Bench dismissed the plea. The court observed that a CBI investigation could not be ordered merely because the accused had political connections. The judge also stated that the petitioner had failed to point out any specific flaws in the current investigation conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that would justify transferring the case to a central agency.
Not satisfied with the decision, the petitioner filed a writ appeal before the Division Bench of the High Court. She argued that the Single Bench had not adequately considered the irregularities and lapses in the SIT’s investigation. She expressed concern that those accused could influence witnesses or tamper with evidence due to their political affiliations. The petitioner further contended that the nature of the case was rare and exceptional, meriting a CBI probe.
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After the appeal was heard and the order reserved, Babu’s family raised dissatisfaction with their previous counsel’s decision to settle for a Crime Branch probe instead of insisting on a CBI inquiry. The Division Bench, however, denied the request for a CBI probe in its March 3 judgment. The court ruled that investigations cannot be handed over to the CBI based solely on personal emotions or assumptions, and that a reasonable fear, backed by concrete evidence, is necessary.
Aggrieved by the Division Bench's decision, the petitioner moved the Supreme Court. Yet, the top court also declined to order a CBI inquiry, stating there were no sufficient grounds to do so.
The petition was filed through Advocate-on-Record (AoR) Ramesh Babu M.R.
Case Title: Manjusha K Vs Central Bureau of Investigation and Others
SLP(Crl) No. 5548/2025
