[ISRO Fake Espionage Case] Kerala Court grants Anticipatory Bail to Former DGP Siby Mathews

Former Kerala DGP Siby Mathews was on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail by a Kerala court in the ISRO Espionage case. The case was registered by the CBI alleging conspiracy to frame former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan and two Maldives nationals in a 1994 espionage case.

The case was reopened after the apex court directed the CBI to look into it. On July 26, top had wrapped up the DK Jain Committee which was constituted to probe into illegal arrest of Scientist Nambi Narayanan by erring officials under the Kerala Government of 1994.

Court noted that the CBI had found reasons to file FIRs against the erring officials but clarified that the DK Jain committee report by itself would not be the basis for proceeding further in the matter.

The anticipatory bail of former DGP had been preferred before the Thiruvananthapuram Principal District and Sessions Judge P Krishnakumar, who had reserved the order last week.

The applicant former DGP had pleaded before the Court that as the matter was handed over to the CBI within two days of arrest of the former scientist, he had no indulgence in his interrogation during the investigation.

Recently Kerala High Court had granted an anticipatory bail plea to three former police officers and a retired Intelligence Bureau (IB) official in the same matter.

Backdrop of the matter

S. Nambi Narayanan is a Padma Bhushan Awardee (2019) and a celebrated scientist, credited with playing a key and instrumental role in the development of the Vikas Engine, that was used for the first PSLV that India launched.

The scientist was arrested when on 21st November 1994, he along with D. Sasikumaran, was accused under charges of espionage after Mariam Rasheeda, a Maldivian National, allegedly made certain "confessions" that lead to the filing of a crime report under Sections 3 and 4 of The Official Secrets Act.

Following this, Narayanan was remanded to 50 days custody where he alleged, he was tortured by officers of the Intelligence Bureau (IB). On 4th December 1994, the case was transferred to CBI for investigation. In its report submitted before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, the CBI stated that the charges against the scientists were false.

The CBI’s report was accepted and on 2nd May 1996, the accused were discharged.

In his pursuit of justice, Narayan filed a case in Supreme Court against his tormentors. The court awarded Narayanan a compensation of Rs. 50 Lakhs (while allowing him to file a civil suit claiming a greater amount) and directed the formation of a three-member committee under Justice D.K Jain.

In April of 2021, after a span of almost two and a half years, the committee finally submitted its report. On April 15, the Supreme Court directed the CBI to treat the Jain Committee Report as preliminary Inquiry Report & proceed further without making the Report Public.

To read more about the development in the matter : [ISRO Espionage Case] Centre Asks Top Court To Act On Panel Probing Into Illegal Arrest Of Nambi Narayanan

(With Inputs From The Free Press Journal)