NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India held that scientist S Nambi Narayanan was unnecessarily arrested , harassed and subjected to mental cruelty and ordered Rs 50 lakh compensation for the scientist. Narayanan was acquitted by a trial court in 1994.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra awarded Rs 50 lakh compensation to 76-year-old Narayanan. The top court also set up a committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice DK Jain to inquire into the role of Kerala police officials in the arrest of the scientist at India’s space agency, ISRO, or Indian Space Research Organisation.
In 1998, the apex court granted compensation of Rs 1 lakh to Narayanan and others, who were discharged in the case, and directed the state government to pay the amount.
The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, formed a three-member panel headed by its former judge D K Jain to probe Narayanan being framed in the spy case.
Reacting to the court order, Narayanan said, “I am happy justice has prevailed. Narayanan was arrested on November 30, 1994, on allegations of espionage. He was later exonerated by the Supreme Court.
