ISRO Spy Case: Kerala Court grants bail to ex-DGP Siby Mathews, not allowed to leave India

Former Kerala DGP Sibey Maws, who is arraigned as fourth accused by CBI in ISRO spy case was granted interim bail by Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court on Friday, but was asked to not leave country without permission. FIR has named 18 ex-Kerala cops and former Intelligence officers accusing m of forging documents to endanger central government officials, including ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan. 

court in its order h directed Investigation Officer (IO) to release Siby Maws on interim bail 'in event of his arrest during course of hearing of main petition'. However,  Sessions Court in its order ded that Siby Maws will not leave India without permission of court and he will have to fully co-operate with investigation. 

On Thursday, CBI filed an FIR at Thiruvananthapuram Chief Magistrate Court, naming 18 persons in conspiracy including former deputy director of IB RB Sreekumar and SP KK Joshua. CBI has named several former Kerala police officers namely- S Vijayan (Pettah Circle inspector), Thampi S Durgath Pettah Sub-Inspector), V R Rajeevan (Trivandrum CP), and Siby Maws (ex-DGP) as prime accused. 

On April 15, Supreme Court of India h ordered a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 1994 espionage case against former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Nambi Narayanan and to file a report in 3 months. This transpired after an inquiry panel formed by Supreme Court in 2018 submitted its report and Centre pushed hard for action to be taken against those who framed Nambi. Narayanan, who h been acquitted in case, was eventually awarded Rs 50 lakh as compensation by Supreme Court in 2018.

What is ISRO spy case?

Kerala police h registered two cases in October 1994, after Maldivian national Rasheeda was arrested in Thiruvananthapuram for allegedly obtaining secret drawings of ISRO rocket engines to sell to Pakistan. Three individuals were arrested in connection with case - n ISRO director Nambi Narayanan, n ISRO deputy director D Sasikumaran and Fousiya Hasan, a Maldivian friend of Rasheeda. Three months later i.e. in 1995, when Narayanan was released on bail, he h approached National Human Rights Commission seeking compensation from Kerala government, for mental agony that he h suffered in process. CBI later dismissed allegations against him as false.

However, Supreme Court in 2018 termed police action against former ISRO scientist 'psycho-pathological treatment', and said his 'liberty and dignity', basic to his human rights, were jeopardised as he was taken into custody and, eventually, despite all glory of past, he was compelled to face 'cynical abhorrence'. SC appointed a three-member panel heed by former judge D K Jain, while Kerala government was directed to give Narayanan a compensation of Rs 50 lakh, as he underwent "immense humiliation”.

Over a period of almost two-and-a-half years, panel heed by Justice (retd) D K Jain examined circumstances leing to arrest. 79-year-old former scientist, who was given a clean chit by CBI, h earlier said that Kerala police h 'fabricated' case and technology he was charged with having stolen and sold in 1994 case did not even exist at that time.

Narayanan h approached apex court against a Kerala High Court judgement that said no action needed to be taken against Maws and two retired Superintendents of Police K K Joshua and S Vijayan, who were later held responsible by CBI for scientist's illegal arrest.

(Image Credits: PTI)