Space scientist Narayanan to testify in ISRO spy case

Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan had said a group of Kerala police and intelligence officers fabricated the espionage case, and the technology he was accused of stealing did not even exist in 1994.

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Nambi Narayanan will testify before a team of CBI officials over his claim that five former police and intelligence officers in Kerala framed him in an espionage case in 1994.

Narayanan, who will make his statement on Tuesday, had said the officers "fabricated" the case and the technology he was accused of stealing did not even exist at that time.

The five police officers are - S Vijayan who was Pettah Circle Inspector during the time of the case, sub-inspector Thampi S Durgadath, former Thiruvananthapuram city police commissioner BR Rajeevan, former DIG Sibi Mathews and SP KK Joshua, according to reports.

A notice has been issued to them to appear before the team. Officials from the Delhi Special Unit have arrived for the investigation.

The investigation pertains to the sensational 1994 ISRO spy case which saw Nambi Narayanan, the then director of the cryogenic project at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), arrested on charges of espionage. He was accused of selling secret documents to Pakistan.

Following a political fallout, the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which acquitted Narayanan of all charges.

The scientist had sued the state government demanding a compensation of Rs 1 Crore for the false implication in the case and sued the Kerala police officers for framing him.

In April, the Supreme Court handed the case to the CBI to conduct further investigation. Subsequently, the CBI registered FIRs against the five police officers.