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{{Short description|Indian aerospace engineer (born 1941)}}
{{Short description|Indian rocket scientist (born 1941)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name              = S. Nambi Narayanan
| name              = Nambi Narayanan  
| image              = Nambi Narayanan.jpg
| image              = Nambi Narayanan.jpg
| caption            = Narayanan in 2017
| caption            = Narayanan in 2017
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1941|12|12|df=yes}}
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1941|12|12|df=yes}}
| birth_place        = [[Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu]], India
| birth_place        = [[Nagercoil]], [[Travancore|Kingdom of Travancore]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br>(present day [[Kanyakumari district|Kanyakumari]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India)<ref>{{Cite news |title=Nambi Narayanan : R Madhavan's 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' will explore the untold story of scientist Nambi Narayanan. Here's what you need to know |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/r-madhavans-rocketry-the-nambi-effect-will-explore-the-untold-story-of-scientist-nambi-narayanan-heres-what-you-need-to-know/articleshow/92484451.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2022-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627073403/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/r-madhavans-rocketry-the-nambi-effect-will-explore-the-untold-story-of-scientist-nambi-narayanan-heres-what-you-need-to-know/articleshow/92484451.cms?from=mdr |archive-date=2022-06-27}}</ref>
| occupation        = Aerospace engineer<!-- Occupation(s) as given in the lead; -->
| occupation        = Aerospace engineer<!-- Occupation(s) as given in the lead; -->
| awards            = [[Padma Bhushan]]
| awards            = [[Padma Bhushan]] (2019)<ref name="GoI"/>
| education          = {{Ubl
| alma_mater        = {{Unbulleted_list| [[Princeton University]]<br>{{small|([[Master of Science in Engineering]])}}
  | [[Princeton University]] ([[Master of Science in Engineering|MSE]])
   | [[Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai]]<br>{{small|([[Bachelor of Technology]])}}<ref name="TH"/>}}
   | [[Thiagarajar College of Engineering]]
| spouse            = Meena Narayanan
  }}
| children          = 2
| relatives          = [[Subbiah Arunan]] (son-in-law)
}}
}}


'''S. Nambi Narayanan''' (born 12 December 1941<ref name="ReadyToFire">{{cite book |last1=Narayanan |first1=Nambi |last2=Ram |first2=Arun |title=Ready To Fire: How India and I Survived the ISRO Spy Case |date=2018 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=9789386826275 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ks1SDwAAQBAJ |access-date=31 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref>) is an Indian aerospace engineer who worked for the [[Indian Space Research Organisation]]. He was awarded the [[Padma Bhushan]], the third-highest civilian award by the [[Government of India]], in 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/padma-awards-2019-announced-full-list-awardees-95673 | title=Padma awards for 2019 announced: Full list of awardees | publisher=[[The News Minute]] | date=25 January 2019 | access-date=25 January 2019}}</ref> The scientist was instrumental in developing the [[Vikas (rocket engine) | Vikas engine]] that would be used for the first [[Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle | PSLV]] that India launched.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/former-isro-scientist-nambi-narayanan-awarded-padma-bhushan-95674|title=Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan awarded Padma Bhushan|date=25 January 2019|website=The News Minute}}</ref>As a senior official at the [[Indian Space Research Organisation]] (ISRO), he was in-charge of the [[cryogenics]] division.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://main.omanobserver.om/node/108901 |title=A false case that delayed India's cryogenic project |publisher=Main.omanobserver.om |access-date=2012-10-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004043732/http://main.omanobserver.om/node/108901 |archive-date=4 October 2012}}</ref>{{bsn|date=April 2021}} In 1994, he was falsely charged with [[espionage]] and arrested.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/reel/900365/rocketry-the-nambi-effect-teaser-madhavan-presents-scientist-nambi-narayans-story|title='Rocketry – The Nambi Effect' teaser: Madhavan presents scientist Nambi Narayanan's story|author=Scroll Staff|website=Scroll.in}}</ref> The charges against him were dismissed by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI) in April 1996,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/isro-spy-case-the-scientist-who-came-in-from-the-cold/articleshow/64616516.cms|title=Isro spy case: The scientist who came in from the cold|last=Aravind|first=Indulekha|date=2018-06-17|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref> and the [[Supreme Court of India]] declared him not guilty in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/who-is-nambi-narayanan/1313387/|title=Who is Nambi Narayanan?|date=2018-09-14|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref>
'''Nambi Narayanan''' (born 12 December 1941)<ref name="ReadyToFire">{{cite book |last1=Narayanan |first1=Nambi |last2=Ram |first2=Arun |title=Ready To Fire: How India and I Survived the ISRO Spy Case |date=2018 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=9789386826275 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ks1SDwAAQBAJ |access-date=31 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref> is an Indian [[Aerospace engineering|aerospace scientist]] who worked for the [[ISRO|Indian Space Research Organisation]] (ISRO). As a senior official at the ISRO, he was briefly in charge of the [[cryogenics]] division.<ref>{{Cite news  |date=2021-08-06 |title=Nambi Narayanan sees U.S. hand in ISRO spy case |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/former-scientist-sees-us-hand-in-isro-spy-case/article35771034.ece |access-date=2022-03-22 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He was awarded the [[Padma Bhushan]], India's third-highest civilian award, in March 2019.<ref name="GoI2">{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb_z0jFpQKk |title=President Kovind presents Padma Bhushan to Shri S. Nambi Narayanan |date=16 March 2019 |language=English |publisher=Government of India |access-date=19 July 2022}}</ref>


In 2018, the Supreme Court, through the bench of [[Dipak Misra]], awarded Narayanan a compensation of {{INR}} 5,000,000 (roughly US$70,000), to be recovered from the [[Government of Kerala]] within eight weeks. However the Government of Kerala decided to give him {{INR}} 1.3 crore ({{INR}} 13,000,000; roughly US$183,000).<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/nambi-narayanan-to-get-13-crore/article30405362.ece|title=Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan to get ₹1.3 crore|date=2019-12-26|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-12-27|others=Special Correspondent|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The apex court also constituted a committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge D. K. Jain to inquire into the role of officials of the Kerala police in the arrest of Narayanan.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rautray |first1=Samanwaya |title=Supreme Court to restore ISRO scientist's lost reputation |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/supreme-court-to-restore-isro-scientists-lost-reputation/articleshow/64101196.cms |work=The Economic Times |date=9 May 2018}}</ref>
In 1994, he was arrested on charges of [[espionage]], which were found to be baseless by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI) in April 1996.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/isro-spy-case-the-scientist-who-came-in-from-the-cold/articleshow/64616516.cms|title=Isro spy case: The scientist who came in from the cold|last=Aravind|first=Indulekha|date=2018-06-17|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref> As a result, the [[Supreme Court of India]] dismissed all charges against him and prohibited the [[Government of Kerala]] from continuing its investigation.<ref name="Nileena-Caravan"/> In 2018, a Supreme Court bench headed by then [[Chief Justice of India|Chief Justice]] [[Dipak Misra]], awarded Narayanan compensation of {{INRConvert|50|l|year=2018}}. Additionally, the Government of Kerala then awarded him further compensation of roughly {{INR convert|1.3|c|year=2018}} in 2019.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/isro-scientist-implicated-in-fake-spy-case-to-get-rs-1-3-crore-from-kerala-govt-1631928-2019-12-27|title=Isro scientist Nambi Narayanan implicated in fake spy case to get Rs 1.3 crore from Kerala govt|agency=Press Trust of India |date=December 27, 2019 |magazine=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/nambi-narayanan-to-get-13-crore/article30405362.ece|title=Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan to get ₹1.3 crore|date=2019-12-26|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-12-27|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The film ''[[Rocketry: The Nambi Effect]]'', based on his life, starring and directed by [[R. Madhavan]], was released in July 2022.


== Early life ==
== Early and personal life ==
S. Nambi Narayanan was born into a [[Tamils|Tamil]] family on 12 December 1941 in [[Nagercoil]],<ref name="ReadyToFire"/> where he also completed his schooling at DVD Higher Secondary School.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/memories-of-a-spy-who-won-framed-scientist-vindicated-on-milestone-eve/cid/379297|title=Memories of a 'spy' who won - Framed scientist vindicated on milestone-eve|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://taazakhabarnews.com/how-was-nambi-narayanan-framed-in-a-fake-spy-case/|title=How Nambi Narayanan was framed in a fake Spy Case?|date=17 September 2018|website=Taazakhabar News}}</ref>
Nambi Narayanan was born on 12 December 1941 in [[Nagercoil]], in the erstwhile [[Princely state]] of [[Travancore]] (present-day [[Kanyakumari District]]). He completed his schooling at Higher Secondary School, Nagercoil.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/memories-of-a-spy-who-won-framed-scientist-vindicated-on-milestone-eve/cid/379297|title=Memories of a 'spy' who won - Framed scientist vindicated on milestone-eve|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://taazakhabarnews.com/how-was-nambi-narayanan-framed-in-a-fake-spy-case/|title=How Nambi Narayanan was framed in a fake Spy Case?|date=17 September 2018|website=Taazakhabar News}}</ref> He received a [[Bachelor of Technology]] in [[Mechanical Engineering]] from [[Thiagarajar College of Engineering|Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai]].<ref name="TH">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=9 December 2014|title=After 5 decades, TCE students come together for a reunion|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/after-5-decades-tce-students-come-together-for-a-reunion/article6675198.ece|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> Narayanan lost his father while pursuing his degree in [[Madurai]], with his mother falling sick soon after. He had two sisters. Nambi married Meena Narayanan and has two children. Their son, Shankar Narayanan, is a businessman. Their daughter, Geetha Arunan, is a [[Montessori education|Montessori school]] teacher in [[Bangalore]] and is married to [[Subbiah Arunan]], an ISRO scientist, who was the director of the [[Mars Orbiter Mission]] and a [[Padma Shri]] awardee.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ram |first=Arun |title=S Arunan: Man behind ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/43406070.cms |access-date=2022-07-09}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
Narayanan first met [[Vikram Sarabhai]], the then [[Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation|Chairman of ISRO]], in 1966 at the [[Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station]] in [[Thumba]], Thiruvananthapuram, while he worked as a payload integrator with another eminent scientist [[Y. S. Rajan]] there. Also chairman of the Space Science and technology Centre (SSTC) at the time, Sarabhai only recruited highly qualified professionals. In pursuit, Narayanan enrolled at the [[College of Engineering, Trivandrum|College of Engineering]] in Thiruvananthapuram for his [[Master of Engineering|MTech]] degree. Upon learning this, Sarabhai offered him leave for higher education if he made it to any of the [[Ivy League]] universities. Subsequently, Narayanan earned a [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program|NASA fellowship]] and was accepted into [[Princeton University]] in 1969. He completed his master's program there in chemical rocket propulsion under professor [[:it:Luigi Crocco|Luigi Crocco]] in a record ten months. Despite being offered a job in the US, Narayanan returned to India with expertise in [[Liquid-propellant rocket|liquid propulsion]] at a time when Indian rocketry was still solely dependent on [[Solid-propellant rocket|solid propellants]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ittyipe |first1=Minu |title=A Gladiator in the Space-Ring |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/a-gladiator-in-the-space-ring/299101 |access-date=31 October 2018 |work=Outlook |date=13 July 2017}}</ref>
After studying mechanical engineering in [[Madurai]], Narayanan started his career in 1966 at [[Indian Space Research Organisation|ISRO]] as a technical assistant at the [[Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station]].<ref name="Nileena-Caravan"/> He was sent to [[Princeton University]] on deputation at [[Government of India]]'s expense in 1969. He completed his master's program there in chemical rocket propulsion under professor [[:it:Luigi Crocco|Luigi Crocco]]. He returned to India with expertise in [[ Liquid rocket propellant|liquid propulsion]] at a time when Indian rocketry was still solely dependent on [[Solid-propellant rocket|solid propellants]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ittyipe |first1=Minu |title=A Gladiator in the Space-Ring |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/a-gladiator-in-the-space-ring/299101 |access-date=31 October 2018 |work=Outlook |date=13 July 2017}}</ref>{{bsn|date=June 2022}} He has claimed that he had to educate [[Vikram Sarabhai|Sarabhai]] on liquid propulsion technology in his book.<ref name="ReadyToFire" />


Narayanan introduced the liquid fuel rocket technology in India in the early 1970s, when [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]]'s team was working on solid motors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ex-isro-scientist-wrongly-implicated-in-spy-case-receives-padma-bhushan/articleshow/68443828.cms|title=Ex-Isro scientist, wrongly implicated in spy case, receives Padma Bhushan {{!}} India News - Times of India|last1=16 Mar|first1=Surendra Singh {{!}} TNN {{!}}|last2=2019|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27|last3=Ist|first3=21:55}}</ref> He foresaw the need for liquid fuelled engines for ISRO's future civilian space programmes, and received encouragement from the then ISRO chairman [[Satish Dhawan]], and his successor [[U. R. Rao]]. Narayanan developed liquid propellant motors, first building a successful {{convert|600|kg|lb}} thrust engine in the mid-1970s and thereafter moving on to bigger engines.
== ISRO espionage charges ==
{{main|ISRO espionage case}}


In 1992, India signed an agreement with Russia for transfer of technology to develop [[cryogenic fuel]]-based engines and procurement of two such engines for {{INR}} 235 [[crore]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Subramanian |first1=T. S. |title=Over the moon |url=https://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2310/stories/20060602006504500.htm |website=Frontline |access-date=1 November 2018 |volume=23 |issue= 10 |date=20 May - 2 June 2006}}</ref> However, it did not materialize after the US president [[George H. W. Bush]] wrote to Russia, raising objections against the transfer of technology and even threatening to blacklist the country from the select-five club. Russia, under [[Boris Yeltsin]], succumbed to the pressure and denied the technology to India. To bypass this monopoly, India signed a new agreement with Russia to fabricate four cryogenic engines, alongside two [[mockup]]s for a total of {{USD}}9 million,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mehta |first1=Nikita |title=How Isro got an indigenous cryogenic engine |url=https://www.livemint.com/Specials/HgL2TtHJi3WbLO0IB7at2L/How-Isro-got-an-indigenous-cryogenic-engine.html |website=Livemint |access-date=1 November 2018 |date=10 March 2014}}</ref> after floating a global tender without a formal transfer of technology. ISRO had already reached a consensus with [[Kerala Hitech Industries Limited]] which would have provided the cheapest tender for fabricating engines. But this failed to materialize due to the spy scandal of 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/deep-focus/The-scientist-who-wasnt-a-spy/articleshow/16511623.cms |title=The Scientist Who Wasn't A Spy |work=The Times of India|access-date=2012-10-04}}</ref>
On 30 November 1994, Narayanan was arrested as part of an investigation of alleged espionage, by a team of [[Kerala Police]] and [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]] officials, based on the videographed statements by a colleague that he and Narayanan had received money for transferring drawings and documents of rocket engines to two [[Maldivians|Maldivian]] women, Mariam Rasheeda and [[Fauziyya Hassan]], who were suspected to be spies. In December 1994, the transfer of the case to the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI) was criticized in media and by opposition parties in [[Kerala]]. CBI was seen to be dominated by [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]], then-[[Prime Minister of India]] and some of the people named in the investigation were close to Rao and [[K. Karunakaran]], then-[[Chief Minister of Kerala]].<ref name="Nileena-Caravan">{{cite web|url=https://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/space-secrets|last=MS|first=Nileena|date=1 November 2020|title= Space Secrets: How the CBI killed India's biggest espionage case|work=[[Caravan (magazine)|Caravan]]}}{{subscription required}}</ref>


After working for nearly two decades, with French assistance, Narayanan's team developed the [[Vikas engine]] used by several ISRO rockets including the [[Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle]] (PSLV) that took [[Chandrayaan-1]] to the moon in 2008. The Vikas engine is used in the second stage of PSLV and as the second and the four strap-on stages of [[Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle]] (GSLV).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/sci-tech/unsung-hero-of-moon-mission-is-sad-but-forgiving_100226418.html |title=Unsung hero of moon mission is sad but forgiving |publisher=Thaindian.com |access-date=2012-10-04}}</ref>
Narayanan spent 50 days in jail. He claims that officials from the Intelligence Bureau, who initially interrogated him, wanted him to make false accusations against the top brass of [[Indian Space Research Organisation|ISRO]]. He alleges that two IB officials had asked him to implicate [[A. E. Muthunayagam]], his boss and then-director of the [[Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre]] (LPSC), saying that when he refused to comply, he was tortured until he collapsed and was hospitalised.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sarin |first1=Ritu |title=Wrongly accused ISRO scientist seeks damages |url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19990103/0035021.html |access-date=31 October 2018 |work=The Indian Express |date=3 January 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040928145200/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19990103/0035021.html |archive-date=28 September 2004}}</ref> He says his main complaint against ISRO is that it did not support him. [[K. Kasturirangan]], who was ISRO chairman at the time, stated that ISRO could not interfere in a legal matter.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} He has written that the director of CBI Vijaya Rama Rao met him in jail on 8 December (four days after the case was transferred), when he explained to the director that the drawings of rockets and engines were not classified and has expressed that the CBI director wondered how the case had gotten so far and apologized in that meeting.<ref name="Nileena-Caravan" />


=== Espionage charges ===
In April 1996, before the [[1996 Indian general election]], CBI submitted a closure report,<ref name="Joshi-InToday">{{cite web |last=Joshi |first=Charulata |date=31 August 1996 |title=ISRO spy scandal: IB, Kerala Police dispute CBI contention of bungling up the probe |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/investigation/story/19960831-isro-spy-scandal-ib-kerala-police-dispute-cbi-contention-of-bungling-up-the-probe-833786-1996-08-31 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> saying that there was no espionage and that the testimonies of suspects were coerced by torture.<ref name="Nileena-Caravan"/>{{rp|p=1|quote=The CBI submitted a closure report in April 1996, at a time when the Narasimha Rao government was facing a general election after a term in office that was mired in corruption scandals. ... Based on the testimonies of the accused, the CBI argued that there was no case of espionage at all. The bureau argued that the suspects were tortured by the police, and that their confessions had been extracted under duress}} In a previous order in a related case, Kerala High Court, which had seen the videos of interrogation, had dismissed allegations of torture and made critical comments about CBI's failure to follow all the leads.<ref name="Nileena-Caravan" /> Amid attention on gaps in the CBI closure report, a challenge of the report in [[Kerala High Court]] by S. Vijayan, a police officer<ref name="Joshi-InToday"/> and continuing political pressure, the Kerala government revoked the permission granted previously to CBI to investigate the case and ordered the Kerala police to take it up again. But a Supreme Court bench stopped it in April 1998 saying that "the CBI found that no case had been made out" and ordered the Kerala government to pay {{INRConvert|1|l|year=1998}} to each of the accused (including Narayanan).<ref name="RK-Frontline">{{cite web |last1=Krishnakuar |first1=R |title=Requiem for a scandal |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/article30161423.ece |website=frontline.thehindu.com |access-date=1 July 2022 |language=en |date=8 May 1998}}</ref> In September 1999, the [[National Human Rights Commission of India|National Human Rights Commission]] (NHRC) passed strictures against the government of [[Kerala]] for having damaged Narayanan's distinguished career in space research along with the physical and mental torture to which he and his family were subjected. After the dismissal of charges against them, the two scientists, Sasikumar and Narayanan were transferred out of [[Thiruvananthapuram]] and were given desk jobs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?204019 |title=Cops Tortured Me |publisher=Outlookindia.com |access-date=2012-10-04}}</ref>


In 1994, Narayanan was charged with leaking vital defence secrets to two alleged [[Maldives|Maldivian]] intelligence officers, Mariam Rasheeda and Fauzia Hassan. Defense officials said the secrets pertained to highly confidential "flight test data" from experiments with rocket and satellite launches. Narayanan was among two scientists (the other being D. Sasikumaran) that were accused of selling the secrets for millions. However, his house seemed nothing out of the ordinary and did not show signs of the corrupt gains he was accused of.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/may/08isro.htm |title=What happens to the four years of life they have been robbed of? |work=[[Rediff.com]] |access-date=2012-10-04}}</ref>
In 2001, the NHRC ordered the [[Government of Kerala]] to pay him a compensation of {{INR convert|1|c|year=2001}}.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article3871592.ece A shattered man now sits cool and detached]. The Hindu, 8 September 2012.</ref> He retired in 2001. The Kerala High Court ordered a compensation amount of {{INRConvert|10|l|year=2012}} to be paid to Nambi Narayanan based on an appeal from NHRC India in September 2012.


Narayanan was arrested and spent 50 days in jail. He claims that officials from the [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]], who were the ones to interrogate him, wanted him to make false accusations against the top brass of ISRO. He alleges that two IB officials had asked him to implicate [[A. E. Muthunayagam]], his boss and then Director of the [[Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre]] (LPSC). When he refused to comply, he was tortured until he collapsed and was hospitalised.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sarin |first1=Ritu |title=Wrongly accused ISRO scientist seeks damages |url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19990103/0035021.html |access-date=31 October 2018 |work=The Indian Express |date=3 January 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040928145200/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19990103/0035021.html |archive-date=28 September 2004}}</ref> He says his main complaint against ISRO is that it did not support him. [[Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan]], who was ISRO chairman at the time stated that ISRO could not interfere in a legal matter.
On 14 September 2018, the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] appointed a panel to probe the "harrowing" arrest and alleged torture of Narayanan. A three-judge bench led by [[Chief Justice of India|Chief Justice]] [[Dipak Misra]] also awarded Narayanan {{INRConvert|50|l|year=2018}} in compensation for the mental cruelty he suffered all these years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-appoints-panel-to-look-into-harrowing-torture-of-nambi-narayanan/article24943213.ece?homepage=true|title=ISRO spy case victim wants justice|date= 14 September 2018|newspaper=The Hindu|last1=Rajagopal|first1=Krishnadas}}</ref> The same month, Narayanan's name was recommended for Padma awards by [[Rajeev Chandrasekhar]], then a BJP member of parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/former-kerala-top-cop-t-p-senkumar-puts-bjp-in-spot-over-padma-award-for-nambi-narayanan/cid/1682872|title=Former Kerala top cop puts BJP in spot over Padma for Nambi |last=Rakesh|first=K.M.|date=26 January 2019|work=[[Telegraph (India)]]}}</ref>


In May 1996, the charges were dismissed as phony by the CBI. They were also dismissed by the Supreme Court in April 1998. In September 1999, the [[National Human Rights Commission of India|National Human Rights Commission]] (NHRC) passed strictures against the government of [[Kerala]] for having damaged Narayanan's distinguished career in space research along with the physical and mental torture to which he and his family were subjected. After the dismissal of charges against them, the two scientists, Sasikumar and Narayanan were transferred out of [[Thiruvananthapuram]] and were given desk jobs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?204019 |title=Cops Tortured Me |publisher=Outlookindia.com |access-date=2012-10-04}}</ref>
=== Recent developments ===
In 2021, the Kerala government settled the case filed against it by Narayanan by agreeing to a payment of {{INRConvert|1.3|c}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nambi Narayanan gets ₹1.3 cr. additional compensation |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/nambi-narayanan-gets-13-cr-additional-compensation/article32329022.ece |website=The Hindu |date=11 August 2020 |access-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312125858/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/nambi-narayanan-gets-13-cr-additional-compensation/article32329022.ece|archive-date=12 March 2021}}</ref>


In 2001, the NHRC ordered the government of Kerala to pay him a compensation of {{INR}} 1 crore.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article3871592.ece A shattered man now sits cool and detached]. The Hindu, 8 September 2012.</ref> He retired in 2001. The [[Kerala High Court]] ordered a compensation amount of Rs 10 lakhs to be paid to Nambi Narayanan based on an appeal from NHRC India in September 2012.
On 14 April 2021 the [[Supreme Court of India]] ordered a CBI probe into the involvement of police officers in the conspiracy.<ref>{{cite web |title=ISRO Spy Case |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/apr/15/isro-spy-case-nambi-narayanan-welcomes-cbi-probe-says-conspirators-should-be-exposed-2290329.html |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415094846/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/apr/15/isro-spy-case-nambi-narayanan-welcomes-cbi-probe-says-conspirators-should-be-exposed-2290329.html |archive-date=15 April 2021 |date=15 Apr 2021}}</ref> Several of the involved police officers filed petitions in different courts in Kerala lodging documents which they claimed showed  transfer of lands between 2004 and 2008 by Narayanan to various CBI officers involved in the investigation, were produced.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://englisharchives.mathrubhumi.com/features/specials/isro-case-getting-murkier-ex-cops-allege-nambi-narayanan-transferred-acres-of-land-to-cbi-officers-1.5854176|title=ISRO case getting murkier: Ex-cops allege Nambi Narayanan transferred acres of land to CBI officers|last=Cherukkad|first=Rajan|work=Mathrubhumi|date=24 July 2021}}</ref> The Kerala High Court dismissed the pleas, stating the documents did not show land sales<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/isro-case-kerala-hc-dismisses-plea-claiming-nambi-narayanan-influenced-cbi-probe-by-land-deals/2369397/|title=ISRO case: Kerala HC dismisses plea claiming Nambi Narayanan influenced CBI probe by land deals|date=15 November 2021|work=PTI}}</ref>  but gave permission for the petitioners to file a fresh case if they could provide sale records .<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nambi-narayanan-isro-spy-case-cbi-kerala-high-court-7616337/|title=Nambi Narayanan influenced CBI probe in ISRO spy case through land deals with agency officials: Kerala HC told|date=10 November 2021|work=PTI}}</ref>


On 3 October 2012, ''[[The Hindu]]'' reported that the government of Kerala had dropped charges against the police officials who were alleged to have falsely implicated Narayanan in the espionage case on the grounds that over 15 years had passed since the case was initiated. The top officer involved in the case, Siby Mathews, was later appointed Chief Information Commissioner in Kerala (2011 - 2016).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/kerala-drops-charges-against-police-officials-in-isro-espionage-case/article3958850.ece |title=Kerala drops charges against police officials in ISRO espionage case |work=[[The Hindu|Thehindu.com]] |access-date=2012-10-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/i-was-one-who-was-victimised-isro-espionage-case-former-kerala-dgp-siby-mathews-63299|title=I was the one who was victimised in ISRO espionage case: Former Kerala DGP Siby Mathews|publisher=The News Minute|access-date=2017-06-07}}</ref>  Kerala government settled the case filed against it by Narayanan by agreeing to a payment of {{INRConvert|1.3|c}}.  As a result of this settlement Mr Narayanan agreed to withdraw his case in the Kerala High Court against the Kerala government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nambi Narayanan gets ₹1.3 cr. additional compensation |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/nambi-narayanan-gets-13-cr-additional-compensation/article32329022.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312125858/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/nambi-narayanan-gets-13-cr-additional-compensation/article32329022.ece|archive-date=12 March 2021 }}</ref>
[[File:President Kovind presents Padma Bhushan to Shri S. Nambi Narayanan.webm|thumb|President Kovind presents the Padma Bhushan to Nambi Narayanan]]


On 14 Apr 2021 the [[Supreme Court of India]] ordered a [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] probe into the involvement of police officers in the conspiracy.<ref>{{cite web |title=ISRO Spy Case |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/apr/15/isro-spy-case-nambi-narayanan-welcomes-cbi-probe-says-conspirators-should-be-exposed-2290329.html |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415094846/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/apr/15/isro-spy-case-nambi-narayanan-welcomes-cbi-probe-says-conspirators-should-be-exposed-2290329.html |archive-date=17 Apr 2021 |date=15 Apr 2021}}</ref>
==Awards==
* March 2019: [[Padma Bhushan]], India's third-highest civilian award.<ref name="GoI">{{cite AV media |date=16 March 2019|title=President Kovind presents Padma Bhushan to Shri S. Nambi Narayanan|language= English|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb_z0jFpQKk |access-date=19 July 2022|publisher= Government of India}}</ref>


===Demand for Justice===
==Bibliography==
[[File:President Kovind presents Padma Bhushan to Shri S. Nambi Narayanan.webm|thumb|President Kovind presents Padma Bhushan to Shri S. Nambi Narayanan]]
On 7 November 2013, Narayanan pushed for justice in his case, seeking to expose those behind the conspiracy. He says that this case will 'discourage' the youth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=200001|title=ISRO spy case victim wants justice|publisher=daijiworld.com|date= 7 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?contentId=15413336&programId=1073754912&tabId=13|title=Prosecute persons behind the ISRO case: Nambi Narayanan|publisher=[[The Week]]|date= 8 November 2013}}</ref>
 
On 14 September 2018, the Supreme Court appointed a three-member panel headed by its former judge to probe the "harrowing" arrest and alleged torture of former space scientist Nambi Narayanan in the 'ISRO spy scandal' that turned out to be fake.
 
A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra also awarded Mr. Narayanan Rs. 50 lakh in compensation for the "mental cruelty" he suffered all these years. The reprieve comes almost a quarter of century after Mr. Narayanan began his legal battles in various forums for his honour and justice.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-appoints-panel-to-look-into-harrowing-torture-of-nambi-narayanan/article24943213.ece?homepage=true|title=ISRO spy case victim wants justice|date= 14 September 2018|newspaper=The Hindu|last1=Rajagopal|first1=Krishnadas}}</ref> In addition to this, the government of Kerala has decided to give him Rs 1.3 crore as compensation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/isro-scientist-implicated-in-fake-spy-case-to-get-rs-1-3-crore-from-kerala-govt-1631928-2019-12-27|title=Isro scientist Nambi Narayanan implicated in fake spy case to get Rs 1.3 crore from Kerala govt|last1=ThiruvananthapuramDecember 27|first1=Press Trust of India|last2=December 27|first2=2019UPDATED|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27|last3=Ist|first3=2019 13:43}}</ref>
 
On 26 January 2019, he was conferred with the [[Padma Bhushan]] award by the Government of India.
 
==Books and popular culture==


===Books===
===Books===
Line 62: Line 56:
* ''Ready To Fire: How India and I Survived the ISRO Spy Case'' by Nambi Narayanan, Arun Ram; Bloomsbury India, 2018.
* ''Ready To Fire: How India and I Survived the ISRO Spy Case'' by Nambi Narayanan, Arun Ram; Bloomsbury India, 2018.


===In popular culture===
== Legacy ==
In October 2018, a biographical film titled ''[[Rocketry: The Nambi Effect]],'' written and co-directed by [[R. Madhavan]], was announced.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 November 2018|title=R. Madhavan: 95 per cent of Indians don't know about Nambi Narayanan, which I think is a crime|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/madhavan-nambi-narayanan-rocketry-the-nambi-effec-5428666/}}</ref> The teaser of the film was released on 1 April 2021 and the film is scheduled to be released in summer-2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Teaser of R Madhavan's 'Rocketry – The Nambi Effect' gets 10 million views in 24 hours!|url=http://www.imdb.com/news/ni62268894|website=IMDb}}</ref>
* In July 2022, a biographical film was made titled ''[[Rocketry: The Nambi Effect]],'' written, directed by [[R. Madhavan]], who also played the titular role of Narayanan.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 November 2018|title=R. Madhavan: 95 per cent of Indians don't know about Nambi Narayanan, which I think is a crime|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/madhavan-nambi-narayanan-rocketry-the-nambi-effec-5428666/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Teaser of R Madhavan's 'Rocketry – The Nambi Effect' gets 10 million views in 24 hours!|url=http://www.imdb.com/news/ni62268894|website=IMDb}}</ref> The film won the Best Feature Film award at the 69th Indian National Film Awards in 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-24 |title=Rocketry: The Nambi Effect wins National Award for Best Feature Film. Here's what the film is based on |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/technology/rocketry-the-nambi-effect-wins-national-award-for-best-feature-film-nambi-narayanan-isro-spy-case-101692879887922.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921150048/https://www.hindustantimes.com/technology/rocketry-the-nambi-effect-wins-national-award-for-best-feature-film-nambi-narayanan-isro-spy-case-101692879887922.html |archive-date=21 September 2023 |access-date=2025-04-24 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
== See also ==
==See also==
* [[Kuldeep Sharma (Cop)]]
*[[Indian Space Research Organisation|ISRO]]
* [[R. B. Sreekumar]]
*[[Rocketry: The Nambi Effect]]
* [[Sanjiv Bhatt]]
* [[Haren Pandya]]


==References==
==References==
Line 75: Line 70:
* [http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1510/15101140.htm Most detail of false ISRO Spy case.]
* [http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1510/15101140.htm Most detail of false ISRO Spy case.]
* [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/national-interest-the-isro-spy-case-test/1009451/ National Interest: The ISRO Spy Case Test- Sekar Gupta]
* [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/national-interest-the-isro-spy-case-test/1009451/ National Interest: The ISRO Spy Case Test- Sekar Gupta]
* [http://indrus.in/blogs/2013/12/04/how_indias_cryogenic_programme_was_wrecked_31365.html How India’s cryogenic programme was wrecked]
* [https://www.rbth.com/blogs/2013/12/04/how_indias_cryogenic_programme_was_wrecked_31365 How India's cryogenic programme was wrecked]


{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2010–2019}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2010–2019}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Narayanan, Nambi}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Narayanan, Nambi}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Indian Space Research Organisation people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian aerospace engineers]]
[[Category:Indian aerospace engineers]]
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[[Category:Scientists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Scientists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of India]]

Latest revision as of 19:16, 28 December 2025


Nambi Narayanan
Narayanan in 2017
Born (1941-12-12) 12 December 1941 (age 84)
Nagercoil, Kingdom of Travancore, British India
(present day Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India)[1]
Alma mater
OccupationAerospace engineer
Spouse(s)Meena Narayanan
Children2
RelativesSubbiah Arunan (son-in-law)
AwardsPadma Bhushan (2019)[3]

Nambi Narayanan (born 12 December 1941)[4] is an Indian aerospace scientist who worked for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). As a senior official at the ISRO, he was briefly in charge of the cryogenics division.[5] He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, in March 2019.[6]

In 1994, he was arrested on charges of espionage, which were found to be baseless by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in April 1996.[7] As a result, the Supreme Court of India dismissed all charges against him and prohibited the Government of Kerala from continuing its investigation.[8] In 2018, a Supreme Court bench headed by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, awarded Narayanan compensation of ₹50 lakh (equivalent to ₹54 lakh or US$75,000 in 2019). Additionally, the Government of Kerala then awarded him further compensation of roughly ₹1.3 crore (equivalent to ₹1.4 crore or US$200,000 in 2019) in 2019.[9][10] The film Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, based on his life, starring and directed by R. Madhavan, was released in July 2022.

Early and personal life[edit | edit source]

Nambi Narayanan was born on 12 December 1941 in Nagercoil, in the erstwhile Princely state of Travancore (present-day Kanyakumari District). He completed his schooling at Higher Secondary School, Nagercoil.[11][12] He received a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai.[2] Narayanan lost his father while pursuing his degree in Madurai, with his mother falling sick soon after. He had two sisters. Nambi married Meena Narayanan and has two children. Their son, Shankar Narayanan, is a businessman. Their daughter, Geetha Arunan, is a Montessori school teacher in Bangalore and is married to Subbiah Arunan, an ISRO scientist, who was the director of the Mars Orbiter Mission and a Padma Shri awardee.[13]

Career[edit | edit source]

After studying mechanical engineering in Madurai, Narayanan started his career in 1966 at ISRO as a technical assistant at the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station.[8] He was sent to Princeton University on deputation at Government of India's expense in 1969. He completed his master's program there in chemical rocket propulsion under professor Luigi Crocco. He returned to India with expertise in liquid propulsion at a time when Indian rocketry was still solely dependent on solid propellants.[14][better source needed] He has claimed that he had to educate Sarabhai on liquid propulsion technology in his book.[4]

ISRO espionage charges[edit | edit source]

Main article: ISRO espionage case

On 30 November 1994, Narayanan was arrested as part of an investigation of alleged espionage, by a team of Kerala Police and Intelligence Bureau officials, based on the videographed statements by a colleague that he and Narayanan had received money for transferring drawings and documents of rocket engines to two Maldivian women, Mariam Rasheeda and Fauziyya Hassan, who were suspected to be spies. In December 1994, the transfer of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was criticized in media and by opposition parties in Kerala. CBI was seen to be dominated by P. V. Narasimha Rao, then-Prime Minister of India and some of the people named in the investigation were close to Rao and K. Karunakaran, then-Chief Minister of Kerala.[8]

Narayanan spent 50 days in jail. He claims that officials from the Intelligence Bureau, who initially interrogated him, wanted him to make false accusations against the top brass of ISRO. He alleges that two IB officials had asked him to implicate A. E. Muthunayagam, his boss and then-director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), saying that when he refused to comply, he was tortured until he collapsed and was hospitalised.[15] He says his main complaint against ISRO is that it did not support him. K. Kasturirangan, who was ISRO chairman at the time, stated that ISRO could not interfere in a legal matter.[citation needed] He has written that the director of CBI Vijaya Rama Rao met him in jail on 8 December (four days after the case was transferred), when he explained to the director that the drawings of rockets and engines were not classified and has expressed that the CBI director wondered how the case had gotten so far and apologized in that meeting.[8]

In April 1996, before the 1996 Indian general election, CBI submitted a closure report,[16] saying that there was no espionage and that the testimonies of suspects were coerced by torture.[8]: In a previous order in a related case, Kerala High Court, which had seen the videos of interrogation, had dismissed allegations of torture and made critical comments about CBI's failure to follow all the leads.[8] Amid attention on gaps in the CBI closure report, a challenge of the report in Kerala High Court by S. Vijayan, a police officer[16] and continuing political pressure, the Kerala government revoked the permission granted previously to CBI to investigate the case and ordered the Kerala police to take it up again. But a Supreme Court bench stopped it in April 1998 saying that "the CBI found that no case had been made out" and ordered the Kerala government to pay ₹1 lakh (equivalent to ₹3.6 lakh or US$5,100 in 2019) to each of the accused (including Narayanan).[17] In September 1999, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) passed strictures against the government of Kerala for having damaged Narayanan's distinguished career in space research along with the physical and mental torture to which he and his family were subjected. After the dismissal of charges against them, the two scientists, Sasikumar and Narayanan were transferred out of Thiruvananthapuram and were given desk jobs.[18]

In 2001, the NHRC ordered the Government of Kerala to pay him a compensation of ₹1 crore (equivalent to ₹3.2 crore or US$450,000 in 2019).[19] He retired in 2001. The Kerala High Court ordered a compensation amount of ₹10 lakh (equivalent to ₹15 lakh or US$21,000 in 2019) to be paid to Nambi Narayanan based on an appeal from NHRC India in September 2012.

On 14 September 2018, the Supreme Court appointed a panel to probe the "harrowing" arrest and alleged torture of Narayanan. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra also awarded Narayanan ₹50 lakh (equivalent to ₹54 lakh or US$75,000 in 2019) in compensation for the mental cruelty he suffered all these years.[20] The same month, Narayanan's name was recommended for Padma awards by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, then a BJP member of parliament.[21]

Recent developments[edit | edit source]

In 2021, the Kerala government settled the case filed against it by Narayanan by agreeing to a payment of ₹1.3 crore (US$180,000).[22]

On 14 April 2021 the Supreme Court of India ordered a CBI probe into the involvement of police officers in the conspiracy.[23] Several of the involved police officers filed petitions in different courts in Kerala lodging documents which they claimed showed transfer of lands between 2004 and 2008 by Narayanan to various CBI officers involved in the investigation, were produced.[24] The Kerala High Court dismissed the pleas, stating the documents did not show land sales[25] but gave permission for the petitioners to file a fresh case if they could provide sale records .[26]

President Kovind presents the Padma Bhushan to Nambi Narayanan

Awards[edit | edit source]

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

Books[edit | edit source]

  • Ormakalude Bhramanapadham: An Autobiography by Nambi Narayanan, Prajesh Sen; Thrissur Current Books, 2017.
  • Ready To Fire: How India and I Survived the ISRO Spy Case by Nambi Narayanan, Arun Ram; Bloomsbury India, 2018.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

  • In July 2022, a biographical film was made titled Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, written, directed by R. Madhavan, who also played the titular role of Narayanan.[27][28] The film won the Best Feature Film award at the 69th Indian National Film Awards in 2023.[29]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Nambi Narayanan : R Madhavan's 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' will explore the untold story of scientist Nambi Narayanan. Here's what you need to know". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "After 5 decades, TCE students come together for a reunion". The Hindu. 9 December 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 President Kovind presents Padma Bhushan to Shri S. Nambi Narayanan. Government of India. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Narayanan, Nambi; Ram, Arun (2018). Ready To Fire: How India and I Survived the ISRO Spy Case. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9789386826275. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Nambi Narayanan sees U.S. hand in ISRO spy case". The Hindu. 6 August 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  6. ↑ President Kovind presents Padma Bhushan to Shri S. Nambi Narayanan. Government of India. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  7. ↑ Aravind, Indulekha (17 June 2018). "Isro spy case: The scientist who came in from the cold". The Economic Times. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 MS, Nileena (1 November 2020). "Space Secrets: How the CBI killed India's biggest espionage case". Caravan.(subscription required)
  9. ↑ "Isro scientist Nambi Narayanan implicated in fake spy case to get Rs 1.3 crore from Kerala govt". India Today. Press Trust of India. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  10. ↑ "Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan to get ₹1.3 crore". The Hindu. 26 December 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  11. ↑ "Memories of a 'spy' who won - Framed scientist vindicated on milestone-eve". www.telegraphindia.com.
  12. ↑ "How Nambi Narayanan was framed in a fake Spy Case?". Taazakhabar News. 17 September 2018.
  13. ↑ Ram, Arun. "S Arunan: Man behind ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission". The Economic Times. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  14. ↑ Ittyipe, Minu (13 July 2017). "A Gladiator in the Space-Ring". Outlook. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  15. ↑ Sarin, Ritu (3 January 1999). "Wrongly accused ISRO scientist seeks damages". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 28 September 2004. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Joshi, Charulata (31 August 1996). "ISRO spy scandal: IB, Kerala Police dispute CBI contention of bungling up the probe". India Today.
  17. ↑ Krishnakuar, R (8 May 1998). "Requiem for a scandal". frontline.thehindu.com. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  18. ↑ "Cops Tortured Me". Outlookindia.com. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  19. ↑ A shattered man now sits cool and detached. The Hindu, 8 September 2012.
  20. ↑ Rajagopal, Krishnadas (14 September 2018). "ISRO spy case victim wants justice". The Hindu.
  21. ↑ Rakesh, K.M. (26 January 2019). "Former Kerala top cop puts BJP in spot over Padma for Nambi". Telegraph (India).
  22. ↑ "Nambi Narayanan gets ₹1.3 cr. additional compensation". The Hindu. 11 August 2020. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  23. ↑ "ISRO Spy Case". The New Indian Express. 15 April 2021. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  24. ↑ Cherukkad, Rajan (24 July 2021). "ISRO case getting murkier: Ex-cops allege Nambi Narayanan transferred acres of land to CBI officers". Mathrubhumi.
  25. ↑ "ISRO case: Kerala HC dismisses plea claiming Nambi Narayanan influenced CBI probe by land deals". PTI. 15 November 2021.
  26. ↑ "Nambi Narayanan influenced CBI probe in ISRO spy case through land deals with agency officials: Kerala HC told". PTI. 10 November 2021.
  27. ↑ "R. Madhavan: 95 per cent of Indians don't know about Nambi Narayanan, which I think is a crime". 1 November 2018.
  28. ↑ "Teaser of R Madhavan's 'Rocketry – The Nambi Effect' gets 10 million views in 24 hours!". IMDb.
  29. ↑ "Rocketry: The Nambi Effect wins National Award for Best Feature Film. Here's what the film is based on". Hindustan Times. 24 August 2023. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2025.

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