Thiruvananthapuram: The ISRO espionage case began with cops registering a case at Vanchiyoor police station here on Oct. 20, 1994, against Maldivian national Mariam Rasheeda under the Foreigners’ Act. The then special branch inspector S. Vijayan initiated the case.
After her interrogation by the police and the Intelligence Bureau, another case was registered under Indian Official Secrets Act alleging certain official secrets and documents of Indian Space Research Organisation had been leaked out by scientists of the organisation.
Subsequently, another Maldivian national Fousiya Hasan was also arrested and the case was transferred to special investigation unit, headed by DIG (Crimes) Siby Mathews, which was formed to probe the case. ISRO scientist D. Sasikumar was arrested on Nov. 21, 1994, and on November 30, Nambi Narayanan was arrested.
They were accused of passing on space research secrets to the Maldivian nationals, framed as Maldivian intelligence officers. They allegedly suffered sever police torture. Then Chief Minister K. Karunakaran was also in a tight spot following allegations against his close confidante, then IG Raman Srivastava. Karunakaran was even forced to quit following the political undercurrents triggered by his rivals in the party.
The CBI which later took over the probe dismissed the charges as fabricated and submitted report in 1996 recommending action against the police officers. In 1998 Supreme Court acquitted the accused of all charges.
In its report, the CBI had pointed out lapses on the part of Siby Mathews, DySP K. K. Joshua and inspector S. Vijayan. Based on that, Nambi Narayanan started the legal fight.
Nambi Narayana approached the National Human Rights Commission seeking compensation of Rs 1 crore. NHRC ordered an interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh. It was paid by the state government in 2012 following a High Court order to implement it.
