The 1994 Nambi Narayanan Espionage Case: CBI Reveals Shocking Truth Behind the Fabrication

The 1994 ISRO espionage case, once seen as a major scandal involving the alleged transfer of sensitive rocket technology to foreign agents, has now been revealed as a fabricated plot. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has uncovered that the entire case was concocted by a Kerala Police officer to punish a Maldivian woman, Mariyam Rasheeda, who rejected his advances.

Nambi Narayanan, a respected scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), found himself at the center of this false narrative. Alongside him, three other ISRO scientists and two Maldivian women, Mariyam Rasheeda and Fauzia Hasan, were wrongfully accused and arrested. The CBI's recent charge sheet, filed in late June and made public in early July, sheds light on the disturbing details behind the case.

The roots of the scandal trace back to the actions of S Vijayan, a then special branch officer of the Kerala Police. After Rasheeda spurned his romantic advances, Vijayan confiscated her travel documents and prevented her from leaving India. Vijayan discovered that Rasheeda was in contact with an ISRO scientist, D Sasikumaran, and began to surveil her and her friend Fauzia Hasan. Despite the lack of any incriminating evidence, Vijayan informed the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB), which also found nothing suspicious.

Rasheeda was initially detained for overstaying her visa, a move that the CBI later described as illegal and based on false pretenses. As her custody period was nearing expiration, Vijayan escalated the situation by falsely implicating her and Hasan in an espionage case under the Official Secrets Act. This led to their transfer to a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which then wrongfully arrested Nambi Narayanan and the other ISRO scientists.

The CBI's investigation into this egregious abuse of power revealed that the entire espionage case was built on lies and malicious intent. The agency has recommended the prosecution of five former police officers, including high-ranking officials like former DGPs RB Sreekumar and Siby Mathews. They face charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, wrongful confinement, and fabricating evidence.

Nambi Narayanan's life was turned upside down by these false accusations. Arrested in 1994, he endured torture and humiliation, with his reputation tarnished and his career disrupted. It wasn't until 1996 that his innocence was officially recognized. Narayanan then embarked on a long legal battle to expose the conspiracy against him, which culminated in a Supreme Court directive in 2021 for the CBI to investigate the erring officials.

In 2018, the Supreme Court acknowledged the grave injustice done to Narayanan, terming the police actions as "psychopathological treatment." The court awarded him Rs 50 lakh as compensation for the wrongful imprisonment and the malicious prosecution he endured.

Despite the profound personal suffering, Narayanan has expressed no desire for vengeance against those who wronged him. He has stated that he feels vindicated by the truth coming to light and does not seek further punishment for the officers involved. His primary satisfaction lies in proving his innocence and restoring his dignity after years of being unjustly vilified.

The unraveling of the 1994 ISRO espionage case stands as a stark reminder of how personal vendettas and abuse of power can devastate lives and disrupt national institutions. It also highlights the importance of vigilance and accountability in upholding justice and protecting individuals from malicious prosecution.