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SC refuses to let Nayanar reinvestigate ISRO case

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to allow the Kerala government to further investigate the Indian Space Research Organisation 'spy' scandal wherein four distinguished scientists were accused of passing secret scientific information to foreign powers.

The interim order was passed by a three-judge bench comprising Justices G N Rai, B N Kirpal and G B Patanaik.

The four scientists involved are Nambi Narayanan, K Chandrasekhar, S K Sharma and D Sashi Kumar. They had allegedly passed on information about cyrogenic engine, which ISRO is trying to develop, to two Maldivian women, Mariam Rasheeda and Fauzia Hussan.

Earlier, Attorney General Ashok Desai submitted that the Central Bureau of Investigation had completely absolved all the accused, and that the Ernakulam chief judicial magistrate had discharged the case two years ago.

The clearance which the Kerala government had accorded its police to reopen the case was causing complications for the external affairs ministry as Rasheeda and Hussain were still in custody. The case should therefore be heard immediately, the attorney general said.

The Kerala government counsel urged the court to allow the police to continue with their investigation till a final order is passed. However, the court declined the request.

The court adjourned the hearing observing that it would "try to fix an early date of hearing.''

UNI

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