NEW DELHI: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) data, which was smuggled out of the country by the recently exposed spy ring in Thiruvananthapuram, ‘was routinely carried out of the ISRO premises by Kerala Inspector General of Police Ramon Srivastava.

Srivastava is expected to be arrested by the authorities any day now, as the information and evidence against him is in the process of being consolidated, top Government sources said.

So shaken are the highest echelons of the nation’s bureaucracy by the treachery of a police officer of such seniority that they have ordered that Srivastava brother, a member of the Prime Minister’s personal security organization, the Special Protection Group (SHG), be put under observation.

‘The IG, 2/1973 batch member of the PS, acted as a courier between the scientists D, Saskumaran and his boss, Nambi Marayanan, Deputy Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Center (LPSC) at Valiamala near ‘Thiruvananthapuram as well as businessman Chandrasekhar an (described as the representative of the Russian space agency Glaykosmos), who was the conduit through which the data left the country.

A top Government source said Srivastava used his official car to ferry the data out of the ISRO establishment, knowing fully well that no one would even think of searching a senior member of the State security setup for the country’s sensitive secrets of its space research.

‘The data, as has so far been established, left the country and ended up at two destinations: the French space agency Arianespace, and a “nonofficial” outfit in Russia.

Ironically, sources said the authorities “stumbled” on the commercial espionage ring only after a Maldivian woman, Mariam Rasheed a, appeared before the immigration authorities in Thiruvananthapuram seeking an extension of her visa.

During the routine questioning by immigration officials, she gave “funny” answers, which prompted the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to search her premises. The search turned up a diary with Chandrasekhar n’s name in it, and a search of his house turned up another diary which led the authorities to the scientists.

Chandrasekhar n’s diary had the name of Sasikumaran, and a figure of dollars was scrawled next to. It, Questioning Sasikumaran led the authorities to Nambi Narayanan, and they pointed the finger at the IG, Srivastava was put under watch, and his role was conclusively established.

Interestingly, Nambi Narayanan somehow got wind of the inquiry a month earlier, and submitted a request to the ISRO that he is allowed to resign. He told the ISRO he wished to start a business in aquaculture farming,

‘The government, however, asked ISRO Chairman K. Kasturirangan to keep Nambi Naryananan in service. Sasikumaran had already been transferred to Ahmedabad, and the ISRO was asked to transfer him back to Thiruvananthapuram, but the events overtook the proposed return. Mariam and another Maldivian woman lauzia Hassan (both of whom have been described as operatives of the Maldivian intelligence service) were arrested on Oct.20 and Noy.4 respectively Chandrasekhar a was arrested on Novy.3, Sasikumaran on Nov.24, Nambi NaryanananonNov.30and another businessman S.K. Sharma a couple of days later. Government sources said as per evidence collected so far, both scientists had each amassed wealth in the area of US $2, 00,000. “That how the aquaculture farm was going to get started,” sources said, “The two scientists had even planned to go into the venture together.”

The source shook his head. “Space secrets for aquaculture farming.

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 16, 1994