Tortured After ‘Wrongful’ Arrest During Congress Rule, Senior ISRO Scientist Nambi Narayanan Awarded Rs 50 Lakh Compensation By SC

Nambi Narayanan, a scientist in the cryogenic division of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) who had been arrested for leaking defence secrets to enemy countries in 1994 has been awarded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for wrongful arrest, Bar and Bench has reported. The scientist was arrested under the Official Secrets Act. Later he was acquitted of all charges in 1998. Nambi Narayanan was needlessly arrested and tortured, the court said.

Nambi Narayanan had accused the Kerala Police and Intelligence Bureau of torturing him with a motive to extract statements from him. The court set up a committee under former Supreme Court Judge D K Jain to ascertain whether action needs to be taken against erring officials. The panel headed by Justice Jain will have one member from the centre and one from Kerala government.

The scientist had earlier approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which had awarded him a compensation of Rs 10 lakh. However, a Kerala High Court bench had turned down his plea for action against erring officials. This judgement had led to his petition before the Supreme Court.