Government unlikely to file appeal in ISRO case
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Caught up in a catch-22 situation, the state government may not file an appeal against the recent High Court order to quash the government decision not to initiate any action against the former police officers who probed the ISRO spy case, including State Chief Information Commissioner Siby Mathews. Instead, the government is pinning its hopes on the affected ex-cops approaching the court.
While political compulsions prevent the government from challenging the High Court order, initiating any action against the former police officers with a good track record will not only demoralise the police force, but will also go against the spirit of the government’s earlier decision not to initiate any action against them.
Mr. Mathews and former SP K.K. Joshua have already decided to file an appeal against the order, while the third officer against whom the CBI recommended action, Mr. S. Vijayan, is also likely to follow suit.
“I was planning to implead myself if the government files an appeal. But since the government has not initiated any steps so far, I will file an appeal within a couple of days,” said Mr. Mathews.
Mr. Vijayan pointed out that the CBI had only cited certain minor lapses on the part of the officials. “The CBI did not recommend any specific action against us.
Even then the government sought our explanation and it was endorsed by then senior officers. Also the upper courts that considered the case did not point out any deliberate lapses from our part,” he said.
Home department sources said that once the ex-cops approach court, the government would be a responded and it could then convey its views.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mathews lamented that many police officers were becoming scapegoats as they have to face private petitions even after leaving police services.
Mr. Vijayan alleged that the present developments were part of some conspiracy against Mr. Mathews to tarnish his image as well as to remove him from the Chief Information Commission post.
Meanwhile It all started with 2 cases way back in 94
The ISRO spy case began with two cases registered under Foreigners Act and Official Secret Act against two Maldivian women and two scientists of VSSC for their alleged involvement in espionage activities in 1994.
A special investigation team led by then DIG Siby Mathews probed the case with the assistance of IB officials.
ISRO scientists Nambi Narayanan and D. Sasikumaran were accused of passing on space research secrets to Maldivian natives Mariam Rasheeda and Fauzia Hassan, framed as Maldivian intelligence officers. They allegedly suffered severe police torture.
The then Chief Minister K. Karunakaran was also in a tight spot owing to the allegations against his close confident, then IG Raman Srivastava,with the ISRO case.
The CBI which later took over the probe dismissed the charges as fabricated and submitted a report in 1996 recommending action against the police officers.
In 1998, the Supreme Court acquitted the accused of all charges. Subsequently, the National Human Rights Commission also ordered compensation to the victims.