Prasanth, who raised allegations of bribery, suspended from Kannur Med College

Kannur: Kannur Government Medical College electrical staff Prasanth TV, who leveled bribery charges against former ADM Kannur Naveen Babu, was suspended on Saturday citing serious violations of conduct and discipline. Following Naveen Babu’s alleged suicide, a letter written by Prasanth to the Chief Minister surfaced in which he said that Naveen Babu had demanded bribe to issue a NoC for a fuel outlet allotted to him by BPCL.

The director of medical education (DME) on Saturday issued an order suspending Prasanth from service after the additional chief secretary of the health department and the joint director of medical education submitted an inquiry report. The inquiry team visited the Kannur Medical College on October 23. It was learned that Prasanth was on unauthorized leave since October 10. Officials reported that Prasanth’s act of engaging in a private enterprise for financial gain even though he was a member of the College of Medicine was a serious breach of discipline and code of conduct. The report also recommended strict action against Prasanth for giving bribe for personal gain. The government, after examining the inquiry report, directed the DME to initiate strict disciplinary action against Prasanth and suspend him from service immediately.

Prasanth joined the service as Electrical Assistant Grade 2 at Kannur Co-operative Medical College in 2012. A preliminary investigation report by the Principal of the Medical College pointed out that Prasanth was among the staff absorbed by the state government. The Medical College which was functioning under cooperative sector societies was taken over by the state government in 2019 and brought under the administration of DME.

Prasanth had earlier lodged a complaint with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan alleging that he had paid Rs 98,500 as bribe to Naveen Babu for the NoC to start a petrol pump in Chengalayi. He alleged that Naveen delayed his request and on October 6 demanded a bribe of Rs 1 lakh. “ADM threatened to cause trouble to the business owned by relatives and friends if they did not pay. Thus, I handed over Rs 98,500 to him at his quarters in Pallikkunnu and received the NoC two days later,” Prasanth stated in the complaint.

The situation escalated after Naveen was found hanging in his official quarters on October 15. He allegedly took his own life following public allegations from former Kannur District Panchayat president PP Divya, who arrived at his farewell meeting the day before and made incriminating comments against Naveen Babu.