Govt to look into Nair's letter to PM on fresh probe

The government on Thursday said it is examining the latest letter written by the former Isro chief Dr G Madhavan Nair, in which he has demanded a fresh probe into the Antrix-Devas deal.

The government on Thursday said it is examining the latest letter written by the former Isro chief Dr G Madhavan Nair, in which he has demanded a fresh probe into the Antrix-Devas deal.

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Dr Nair is among the four scientists who were debarred by the Department of Space in January from occupying any government position in future, following their alleged role in the controversial deal of 2005, which had to be scrapped five years later.

Dr Nair has lodged a strong protest against the government's decision and shot off letters to the Prime Minister and the space department.

The minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office, V Narayanasamy, confirmed that his office has received Nair's latest letter.

"It has been received two days back and is being examined by the department. Once a decision is taken, it will be communicated to Dr Nair," he said.

Narayanasamy said the decision to debar these scientists from any future government assignment is based on the findings of two committees which looked into the Antrix-Devas deal of 2005.

"The entire report of first committee has been put on the website, as far as the second (Pratyush Sinha committee) report is concerned the conclusion part has been put in the website. We will definitely do justice to our scientists," the minister said.

Narayanasamy's statement came a day after the HT reported that the law ministry had asked the space department to allow the scientists to present their version.

In his latest letter to the government, Dr Nair has demanded a fresh probe into the entire deal.

"If at all the government is serious about bringing out the facts they should order a fresh inquiry into the entire episode," Nair told HT.