Kerala cabinet nod to Rs 1.3 crore compensation to ex-ISRO scientist

In 2018, he was compensated Rs 50 lakh by the Supreme Court for “unnecessary arrest, harassment and mental cruelty”.

Nambi Narayanan, isro scandal, isro spy case, isro spy row, Nambi Narayanan isro spy case, supreme court

Nambi Narayanan. (Express photo by Anil Sharma/File)

The Kerala cabinet on Thursday approved a recommendation that former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan be paid Rs 1.3 crore as compensation for his unlawful arrest and torture while in police custody.

The recommended amount would be paid to the scientist accused in the ISRO spy case, apart from the compensation of Rs 50 lakh he was given following a Supreme Court order and Rs 10 lakh suggested by the National Human Rights Commission.

An official communication from the state government said Rs 1.3 crore would be given for settling a suit Narayanan had filed at the sub-court in Thiruvananthapuram in 2003. The recommendation was made by former chief secretary K Jayakumar, who was assigned by the government to look into the issue and suggest remedies. The cabinet on Thursday gave its approval for the recommendation.

In 1994, Narayanan was accused of selling vital secrets associated with Indian space technology to Pakistan. Though he was later acquitted by a CBI court and the Supreme Court in 1998, he spent a total of 50 days in jail along with fellow scientist D Sasikumar and four others.

In 2018, he was compensated Rs 50 lakh by the Supreme Court for “unnecessary arrest, harassment and mental cruelty”.

Shaju Philip

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More

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