Former ISRO scientist who was considered a traitor, acquitted gets Rs 1.30 crore compensation

Thiruvananthapuram, Ta. Wednesday 12 August 2020

The Kerala government on Tuesday paid Rs 1.30 crore to former Indian Space Agency scientist Nambi Narayanan for solving a two-and-a-half-decade-old espionage case. The state police had framed him in the case.

In December last year, the Kerala cabinet had approved compensation of Rs 1.30 crore to the former ISRO scientist.

Narayan, 79, was booked in the Sessions Court in Thiruvananthapuram in 2018 following a Supreme Court order. The apex court in its order said his arrest in the case was unnecessary and he was framed. The apex court also ordered an interim relief of Rs 50 lakh for the former scientist.

The apex court also held that Narayanan was entitled to more than this and he could go to the lower court for appropriate compensation. Earlier, the National Human Rights Commission had also ordered a relief of Rs 10 lakh.

Following the Supreme Court order, the Kerala government asked former chief secretary K Jayakumar to look into the case and fix a fixed compensation amount as well as resolve the case.

After which their suggestions were presented before the court and a settlement was reached. According to the report, accepting the check for the amount of compensation, Narayan said that he was happy. The fight I have fought is not for wealth. My fight was against injustice.

The ISRO espionage case relates to allegations of the transfer of some secret documents and secrets of the county's cryogenic engine technology to enemy countries by four others, including two scientists and two Maldivian women.

Nambi Narayanan was accused in 1994 by two alleged Maldivian women private officials of leaking classified information linked to the defense department. Narayanan was also arrested in the case. There was a lot of trouble in this case.

Several books were written about this sensational case and actor-director R Madhav also made a biopic on Narayanan, who had to pay a heavy price for these allegations with the compassion of the former chief minister. The release of the film has been delayed due to the Corona virus epidemic. Narayanan was awarded the Padma Bhushan last year.