Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Nambi Narayanan spoke about how he had to "fight the entire nation" to clear his name from an espionage case. He was speaking as the chief guest at the first convocation of Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT).
"If you have the determination, you are bound to succeed, and there is no reason for you to worry. I was pushed into a corner with some false charges... I had to fight the entire nation—the Centre, state government, media, the people, and society. I single-handedly fought it and won the case," he said in his address, according to PTI.
Narayanan recalled the legal battle and said that "his problem was over in four years," but in the remaining 20 years, he spent trying to fight the people who created the problem.
"Of course, it took a long time, and most interestingly, if you look at that case, my problem was over in four years. I got what I wanted. But for he remaining 20 years, I was fighting to identify those who created this problem and then put them in the proper place. Because it was otherwise not possible to sleep. That's why I said, 'Go and tackle your problems with determination,'" he said, as per PTI.
The NSUT chancellor, Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena, told the graduates that they should utilize their education for real-world challenges. He also stressed the importance of their social responsibility in their future journey. Saxena said that he envisions NSUT as an institution that excels in academics and research, and he was confident that the graduates would carry the university's legacy and make important contributions to society.
The Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (NSIT), which became the Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT) in September 2018, awarded 1,900 degrees at the event. Out of these, six outside students received the prestigious Chancellor's Gold Medal, and 47 received the Vice-Chancellor's Gold Medal in various undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
ISRO Spy Case
In 1994, Nambi Narayanan was accused of being a 'spy' who, along with another scientist and two other people, leaked certain classified documents about India's space programme to foreign countries through two Maldivian women. However, in 1996, he was cleared of all charges by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), while the Supreme Court declared him "not guilty" in 1998.
The case came to light after one of the Maldivian women was arrested in Thiruvananthapuram in October 1994 for allegedly holding the said confidential documents.
Narayanan was a former liquid propellant scientist at ISRO. In 2018, the Kerala Government was directed by the apex court to provide Rs 50 lakh as compensation for wrongful incarceration of Narayanan, according to Hindustan Times.