The Centre on Thursday reiterated that the former Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman, G. Madhavan Nair, was given “due and adequate chance” to put forth his views on the issue of irregularities in the Antrix-Devas deal.
In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, V. Narayanasamy said the High-Level Team that went into the deal had provided opportunity to Dr. Nair for a personal hearing. “Further, the former Chairman of the ISRO followed it up with a letter to the Chairman [of the team]” he noted.
Mr. Narayanasamy also said that the team, chaired by former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha, had sought detailed clarifications from all officers who had at any in point dealt with the files concerning the agreement.
It was based on the findings of the team that Dr. Nair and three other former scientists of the ISRO had been barred from re-employment, or taking up any committee or other role under the government.
Besides Mr. Sinha, the team comprised Secretaries of Departments of Space (K. Radhakrishnan), Telecommunication (R. Chandrasekhar) and Expenditure (Sumit Bose).
