The infamous ISRO spy case is once again in the limelight as the BJP on Thursday claimed that the ruling UPA bailed out a former Gujarat top cop in the 19-year-old case as a quid pro quo to launch a motivated campaign against Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Former Gujarat DGP RB Sreekumar had leveled charges of fake encounters against Modi and the Opposition party played out at a Press conference here a taped conversation between him and Rais Khan, an aide of activist Teesta Setalvad, to suggest they were working in tandem.
“Known for his association with Setalvad for raising issues related riots and encounters against Gujarat Government, Sreekumar had alleged master-minded the conspiracy to brand a patriotic (ISRO) scientist Nambi Narayanan as a traitor and fabricated a case against him. Despite his heinous crimes affecting nation’s interest, most of the charges against him were dropped against him by UPA Government,” BJP spokesperson Meenakashi lekhi told reporters. In the tapped conversation, Sreekumar purportedly says, “Teesta helped me when the chargesheet (on fake encounters) was given to me”.
Recently, a six-term Congress MlA and former minister KK Ramachandran in Kerala, has also approached the High Court to order a probe into the spy case of 1994 which spoiled the careers of two brilliant space scientists of the country. The spy case also derailed the cryogenic engine development programme of India which would have helped the nation to emerge as a space super power.
Sreekumar was posted as Deputy Director, SIB in Trivandrum and was entrusted with the investigation in the ISRO espionage case. “Sreekumar not only branded Narayanan as traitor but also ill-treated him including physical torture and his remaining of jail for nearly 50 days,” lekhi claimed.
The BJP leader claimed it became clear by 2004 that ISRO spy case was a fabricated case done at the behest of individuals inimical to the success of ISRO and India and Sreekumar was single-handedly responsible for the fabrication of this case.
“Things changed dramatically in the second half of 2004 when the UPA Government came to power. In an obvious quid pro quo, Sreekumar was given a clean chit. On December 13, 2004, the MHA issued an order dropping 7 out of the 9 charges without even conducting any enquiry whatsoever. As a part of the quid pro-quo, Sreekumar was expected to launch a tirade full of lies and untruths against the BJP Government in Gujarat for political reasons. Apparently, Sreekumar honored his part of the deal with his political suitors and he continues to do the same even today,” lekhi alleged.
It is amazing as to how charges were dropped even without a written response and on oral submissions without even recording them in writing. In just about one month’s time, the entire process of appointing the presenting officer, enquiry officer, conducting and completing the enquiry, preparing and submitting the enquiry report, consideration of the enquiry report at various levels, and issuing the final order dropping the charges against Sreekumar was completed.
Sreekumar dismissed as false propaganda the allegations levelled by lekhi, saying she had “misrepresented facts”. In the recording, which the party claimed is also available on the Internet, Sreekumar purportedly says, “Teesta helped me when the chargesheet (on fake encounters) was given to me.” Responding to this, Sreekumar claimed that IB was not authorised to investigate the case.
Narayanan was wrongly implicated with charges of leaking vital defense secrets to two alleged Maldivian intelligence officials Mariam Rasheeda and Fauzia Hassan. He along with another scientist D Sasikumaran was accused of handing over ISRO secrets to the Maldivian officials.
Narayanan was forced to languish behind bars for 50 days after being named in the case. He had later, after being cleared in the case, alleged that he was tortured for denying to wrongly name his seniors in the ISRO. The case against Narayanan was dismissed as false in May 1996.