Cbi”must”probe”isro”spy”case”independently:”sc

The Supreme Court said on Monday that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will have to conduct its investigation independently into the alleged conspiracy by former Kerala Police officers to frame former ISRO aerospace scientist and Padma Bhushan awardee Dr Nambi Narayanan.

“Investigation agency must

NEW DELHI:

collect materials on its own. The report (by Justice DK Jain Committee) by itself cannot be the basis to proceed against the persons named as accused in the FIR. It is only to provide you with initial information. Ultimately it is the investigation done by you that will have the consequence,” said the bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Sanjiv Khanna.

The court was referring to the report of the Justice DK Jain committee — the three-member panel set up after it acquitted Dr Narayanan in 2018 — which accused the police officials of foisting a false case against Narayanan, following which the top court directed the CBI to probe the matter. The accused wanted access to the report, arguing that the CBI’S refusal to share the report was prejudicing their defense, and that the agency was relying heavily on its contents.

The bench clarified that the report was meant for the purposes of the court and allowed CBI to upload the FIR on its website without passing any specific directions in this regard.

Representing the CBI, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the top court that the same would be done during the course of the day.

In 2018, the SC held the arrest of Dr Narayanan as needless and granted him compensation of ₹50 lakh for harassment and mental agony.