The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday examined G. Madhavan Nair, former Secretary to the Department of Space and Chairperson of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and governing body of Antrix Corporation Ltd., in connection with the Antrix-Devas Multimedia deal case.
“Mr. Nair was examined in connection with the allegations of corruption in the deal,” a CBI official said.
Business Line and The Hindu had broken the >preliminary CAG findings in the >2005 Antrix-Devas agreement on February 7, 2011.
Thereafter, the government >cancelled the agreement under which Antrix, ISRO’s marketing arm, was to provide 70 MHz of >S-band spectrum to Devas.
On March 16 last year, the CBI registered a case against the Bengaluru-based Devas Multimedia, the then Antrix executive director, R. Sridhara Murthi, R. Vishwanathan and M.G. Chandrasekhar (a former ISRO scientist) of Forge Advisors LLC (U.S.) and unknown officials of the Department of Space, ISRO and Antrix. It accused them of cheating, conspiracy and corruption, between 2004 and 2011, for allegedly favouring an ineligible company, which led to a wrongful gain of Rs.578 crore to Devas Multimedia.
The CBI alleged that Mr. Murthi favoured >Devas Multimedia by giving it the rights for delivery of video, multimedia and information services to mobile receivers in vehicles and mobile phones
The company had allegedly submitted false information about its capability to deliver these services.
According to the agency, the wrongful gain — of which Mr. Vishwanathan and Mr. Chandrasekhar were also alleged beneficiaries — was made through investors from the U.S., Singapore, Mauritius and other countries.
2005 Antrix-Devas agreement: The Business Line-The Hindu expose
February 7, 2011:
>CAG goes after another spectrum deal
>The Antrix-Devas Multimedia agreement
>Spectrum with government agencies should be monitored for efficient usage: TRAI
>What's the big deal about S-band?
>ISRO spectrum deal under review: Centre
>Note for cancellation held up with ISRO
>Trial spectrum given to Devas to be withdrawn soon: DoT
February 8, 2011:
>What the PMO claims and what the facts are
February 11, 2011:
>ISRO background note on agreement between Antrix and Devas
February 12, 2011:
>Devas CEO's letter dated February 11, 2011 to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
February 17, 2011:
