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Former ISRO Scientist Nambi Narayanan Awarded Rs 50 Lakh Compensation By Supreme Court

The court ordered a probe into the role of Kerala police officers in the 1994 spy case.
Narayanan had approached the apex court against a judgement of the Kerala High Court.
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Narayanan had approached the apex court against a judgement of the Kerala High Court.

NEW DELHI -- The Supreme Court on Friday held that former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan was "arrested unnecessarily, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty" in a 1994 espionage case and ordered a probe into the role of Kerala police officers.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra awarded Rs 50 lakh compensation to 76-year-old Narayanan for being subjected to mental cruelty in the case.

Narayanan told Manorama News that he was happy about the "historic verdict".

The bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, had formed a three-member panel headed by former judge DK Jain to probe Narayanan being framed in the spy case.

Narayanan had approached the apex court against the judgement of the Kerala High Court, which said no action needed to be taken against a former DGP and two retired superintendents of police who were later held responsible by the CBI for the scientist's illegal arrest.

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.

He later approached the NHRC claiming compensation from the state government for the mental agony and torture suffered by him.

The NHRC, after hearing both sides and taking into account the apex court judgement of 29 April 1998, awarded him interim compensation of Rs 10 lakh in March 2001.

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