Chaini Parwani –
Published On: November 21, 2021 at 17:44 IST
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) highlighted before the Supreme Court that there may be a “larger conspiracy involving foreign powers” in the ISRO Espionage Matter, which interrupted the technology to evolve the Cryogenic Engine by decades.
A Bench comprising of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and C.T. Ravikumar passed a Notification to the Former Police and Intelligence Bureau officials, Accused in the case, and were later permitted Anticipatory Bail by the Kerala High Court.
Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, representing the CBI stated “The frame-up led to the arrest of scientists. The technology for the Cryogenic Engine was deliberately stalled for at least two decades… May be a larger Conspiracy involving Foreign Powers… Grant of Anticipatory Bail at the threshold may harm the investigation.”
The Kerala High Court had earlier granted Anticipatory Bail to P.S. Jayaprakash, Thampi S. Durga Dutt, Vijayan and R.B. Sreekumar.
The High Court had observed that there was “not even a scintilla of evidence” material, apart from the rhetoric that a foreign power is involved in persuading the Petitioners to connect the ISRO Scientists in the Matter.
The CBI had prosecuted 18 people, including the Petitioners, in case after a Supreme Court-appointed Justice D.K. Jain Committee found fault with them for booking cases against the scientists.
It was highlighted by the committee that some of the persons held liable were involved in the intentional leaking of the information to the media and press to create a narrative implicating the scientists and to arrest them without any material on record to show their involvement in the espionage.
The committee had further indicated that the consequent torture of the Scientists Nambi Narayanan and K. Chandrasekharan in police custody required a detailed probe.
The Court while adjourning the Matter on November 29, denied the request for a Stay.