Rs 10 lakh compensation to former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan soon: Oommen Chandy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala government today decided to accept the High Court order to pay Rs 10 lakh compensation to former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan as damages for being falsely implicated in the ISRO espionage case of 1994.

"The amount as directed by the court will be paid soon", Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters during a cabinet briefing.

"The government will definitely examine the matter", Chandy said when asked whether the government would initiate legal action against police officers who investigated the case and wrongly implicated the scientist in the case.

In a judicial relief that came after an 18-year-long wait, the High Court had on September seven directed payment of Rs 10 lakh as compensation to Nambi Narayanan, who had played a key role in some of ISRO's major projects, including development of cryogenic technology, within three weeks, upholding the 2001 NHRC decision which the state government had challenged.

The sensational case was first investigated by Kerala police and later handed over to CBI. The CBI found that no espionage as alleged had taken place.

In 1998, Supreme court had found that the allegation of espionage was false and had ordered release of all accused in the case.

Following the apex court verdict, Narayanan moved NHRC for compensation and was awarded Rs 10 lakh.

Challenging the NHRC order, the government filed an appeal in 2006 on the ground of limitation. It contended that the plea was filed belatedly and hence it cannot be considered.