In ISRO spy case, top court sets aside Kerala HC order on pre-arrest bail for 5

The 1994 spy case pertains to alleged framing of former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan.

Published on: Dec 2, 2022, 11:01:57 IST

By HT News Desk | Reported by Abraham Thomas | Edited by Swati Bhasin

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

In the ISRO spy case, the Supreme Court on Friday set aside the Kerala High Court order on pre-arrest bail for five accused, including a former top cop. The 1994 espionage case involves the alleged framing of former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Nambi Narayanan. The top court has asked the high court in the southern state to decide their bail plea afresh within four weeks. The accused won't be arrested in the interim period for five weeks, it has been noted.

The scientist was wrongly accused of selling crucial secrets associated with the country's space technology to Pakistan in 1994. While he was later acquitted by a CBI court and the Supreme Court in 1998, he had spent a total of 50 days in jail along with fellow scientist D Sasikumar and four others. In 2018, he was compensated Rs. 50 lakh by the Supreme Court for “unnecessary arrest, harassment and mental cruelty”.

In 2020, the Kerala government had also handed over an additional compensation of ₹1.30 crore to the former scientist in the case, which has also been at the centre of several political standoffs.

In the same year, in June, the CBI had booked former Intelligence Bureau (IB) deputy director RB Sreekumar and 16 other police personnel over the alleged conspiracy. Former Kerala Police officer S Vijayan - among over a dozen accused - had filed a plea last year in the Kerala HC in the case. In his plea before the high court in July 2021, the former police officer alleged that Narayanan had influenced the CBI probe by entering into land deals worth crores with the then investigating officials of the agency. Months later, in November, the high court had dismissed the petition.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.