Meet Nambi Narayanan: The ISRO scientist who revolutionised Indian rocket engines and survived a false 1994 spy case that nearly ended his career |

(Space.com and Wikipedia)

Nambi Narayanan, a senior scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), had his career turned upside down by a false espionage case in 1994. At the time, he was leading India’s cryogenic rocket engine programme and trying to get technology from Russia. The accusations led to his arrest and jail time. They also triggered a long legal fight that went on for years before he was cleared.The case is one of the most well-known controversies in India’s space history. False charges, drawn-out court battles, and delays in technology development made it a very tough time for Narayanan and for ISRO. After he was released, he was honoured for his work, receiving the Padma Bhushan in 2019.

Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan’s background and career

Nambi Narayanan was born into a middle-class family in Kerala. He studied engineering and joined ISRO in the early 1960s. He worked on key projects and alongside someof India’s top space scientists, like Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.He got a scholarship to study rocket propulsion at Princeton University. When he returned to India, he continued working on the cryogenic engine project. His job was to design engines that could handle high-pressure liquid fuels for India’s satellite launch vehicles. This work was crucial for India to develop its own cryogenic engine technology.

Nambi Narayanan’s false espionage case in Kerala in 1994

On 30 November 1994, Kerala police came to Narayanan’s home in Trivandrum. They spoke to him and his wife and told him he had to go to the station for questioning. Later that night, he was formally arrested. Authorities accused him of sharing sensitive rocket technology with Pakistan, supposedly in connection with two women from the Maldives. The women were said to have collected secret information about India’s cryogenic engine programme.The story spread fast in the media. Narayanan was labelled a spy in newspapers and on TV. He was first held in judicial custody, then moved to prison, where he spent 50 days.

Espionage charges dismissed after thorough review by CBI

After his arrest, Narayanan faced charges under India’s Official Secrets Act and other allegations, including corruption. Kerala police reportedly questioned him for long hours. In January 1995, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over. After reviewing all the evidence, they concluded in 1996 that there was no proof of espionage. The report cleared Narayanan and the other accused. No sensitive documents or technology had been transferred.After the CBI’s report, Narayanan was granted bail. His case went through several appeals. The Supreme Court of India dismissed all remaining charges and officially cleared him in 1998.

Narayanan awarded compensation as the Kerala police role was investigated

After the charges were dropped, Narayanan sued the Kerala government for wrongful arrest and harassment. He received compensation, starting with 5 million rupees. Later, more compensation was confirmed for the effect on his career and personal life. In 2018, the Supreme Court ordered a review of the Kerala police’s actions in fabricating the case. Investigations began to find out who was responsible for the false claims.

Impact on India’s Space Programme

Narayanan returned to ISRO after being cleared but was shifted to administrative work rather than research. The pause in his work on the cryogenic engine project slowed some developments. Even so, India successfully developed cryogenic engines and advanced satellite launch vehicles. These achievements strengthened the country’s capabilities in space exploration, satellite deployment, and interplanetary missions.