Ex-ISRO chief Nair ready to face inquiry, points out similarities with previous incident

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 2 (ANI): Former chief of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Madhavan Nair here on Friday said he was ready to face an inquiry regarding his controversial role in the Antrix-Devas deal and added that he could gauge similarities with the previous incident that was reported in the media during 1990s.

Nair said that there could be more than an international conspiracy regarding the present situation, asserting that the reality would only come out through a detailed investigative procedure.

"We can't say anything without any proof, but there are similarities. Earlier, when there was the spy scandal, we had launched PSLV successfully. India became a power in space business, after months the spy scandal emerged. Now, Chandrayaan was launched. India invented many things, after that these allegations came up. If you compare both the situation, we cannot exactly rule out a conspiracy," he said.

In 1993, the spy scandal had cornered Nambi Narayanan and Sasikumar, two ISRO scientists and eventually they had quit the organisation.

Madhavan said since this was a technical issue, a team of qualified experts was required to tackle the controversial matter.

"No, basically it is a technical subject, I told you in the beginning itself. So, any forum or committee, which is looking at it, should have adequate technical people, who know about satellites, communication and associated things. Then, there have to be a few people, who know about the proceedings. See, I can vouch for it, whatever action I have taken as the Secretary is well within the delegated powers to the secretary," he said.

India's Space Department, which functions under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, denied any revenue being lost. The contract with Devas was signed by ISRO during Nair's tenure as chairman.

S-band spectrum, while not currently in extensive use, is likely to become increasingly valuable in India's fast growing mobile phone network, with its ability to provide wireless broadband and other mobile data services. (ANI)