ISRO row: 'Madhavan Nair has misled nation'

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office V Narayanasamy on Sunday accused former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair of misleading the nation by saying he was not given a chance to explain his case before the high level panel which indicted him and three other space scientists in the Antrix-Devas deal.

"The Committee's report clearly stated there was a personal hearing for Madhavan Nair. The principles of natural justice have been followed in his case. Nair has misled the nation by saying he was not given an opportunity to be heard," he told reporters.

He pointed out that the committee, constituted by the prime minister under former chief vigilance commissioner Pratyush Sinha to fix responsibility on officers who had signed the deal, had sent questionnaires to eight scientists about the deal, all of whom had given replies.

Following this, Nair had also met the head of the committee, and there was a personal hearing. The committee recommended that four scientists, including Nair should not be given any government assignment, he said.

Narayanasamy said he did not want to comment further.

For Rediff Realtime News click here