Thiruvananthapuram: A judicial review of the ISRO espionage case ordered by the Supreme Court offers a ray of hope to the police officials who are implicated in the probe. It may also bring the CBI and IB under the scanner.
Even as the SC has constituted a committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice D.K. Jain to “find out ways and means to take appropriate steps against the erring officials,” police sources said that it would give an opportunity to the three police officers to effectively present their case.
While over ten officials of Kerala police were involved in the probe of the ISRO espionage case, only three were implicated for the lapses and harassment against former scientist Nambi Narayanan. Though the CBI had flayed the investigation by the police, the CBI had extended Nambi Narayanan's custody several times. It had also registered a case of amassment of wealth against the ISRO scientists. There were even allegations of brutal physical and mental torture by the CBI against Nambi Narayanan. The Intelligence Bureau officials had also quizzed the scientist while in police custody. All these factors may be reviewed during the judicial probe, said police sources.
The then DIG (crimes) Siby Mathews, who headed the special team that probed the case, former DySP K.K. Joshua, who was one of the many officers in the team, and former special branch inspector S. Vijayan, who was not a member of the special team that arrested Nambi Narayanan, are the three officers implicated in the case.
One of them told DC that he welcomed a judicial probe as they can present their versions effectively. Another retired senior police officer said that though Mr. Nam-bi Narayanan had sought a CBI probe against the erring officers, it would not have been a fair one as the CBI was unlikely to give any report that contradicts its earlier adverse reports against the pol-ice officials. Hence it was good that the SC ordered a judicial probe, he said.
