The Kerala High Court has granted anticipatory bail to a former top police official, who is accused of framing scientist Nambi Narayanan in the Isro spy case.
Thiruvananthapuram,UPDATED: Jan 21, 2023 14:50 IST
As the Central Bureau of Investigation is probing the case, the petitioners will have to appear before the probe agency for questioning.
By Shibimol KG: The Kerala High Court has granted anticipatory bail to a former DGP, Sibi Mathews, who is accused of framing scientist Nambi Narayanan in the Isro spy case.
The HC has granted anticipatory bail to other petitioners, too. However, as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing the case, the petitioners will have to appear before the agency for questioning, and in case of an arrest, they will have to be released on bail.
The development comes days after the Central Bureau of Investigation informed the Kerala High Court that the 1994 espionage case against Indian Space Research Organisation scientist Nambi Narayanan was false and that his arrest was illegal.
ALSO READ | ISRO scientist Nambi’s arrest was illegal, 1994 espionage case was false: CBI informs Kerala HC
The court was further informed by Nmabi Narayana’s advocate that the case was foisted to stall the cryogenic engine which was crucial for India’s space research programme.
This remark was made while the Kerala HC was hearing the case registered by CBI against the officers who conducted an inquiry against Nambi Narayanan in the 1990s.
ALSO READ | Isro espionage case: High-level probe panel submits report to SC on Nambi Narayanan’s illegal arrest
The CBI made this statement while the court was considering the bail plea of the accused officers.
The Isro espionage case was a now-disproven allegation of espionage made by Indian investigation agencies in the 1990s against some employees of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro). Various Indian intelligence agencies and the Kerala police arrested these employees on charges of attempting to sell confidential documents containing indigenous rocket engine designs developed by Isro.
