Five accused including ex-DGP, ADGP appear before CBI in ISRO espionage case

In connection to the 1994 ISRO espionage case, five accused appeared at the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) in Thiruvananthapuram for questioning on Friday.

Meanwhile, before the CBI five accused who appeared for questioning is Sibi Mathews, former Kerala Director General of Police (DGP); R B Sreekumar, former Gujarat Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Thampi S Durga Dutt, Deputy Superintendent of Police; P S Jayaprakash, former intelligence officer; and S Vijayan, (retd) Circle Inspector.

Earlier, the Kerala High Court granted anticipatory bail to two accused Siby Mathews and R B Sreekumar.

Moreover, referring the matter back to the high court the Supreme Court observed High Court’s previous order was passed without considering certain aspects.

“The accused must appear before the CBI for interrogation on January 27 between 10.00 am and 11.00 am. They shall continue to appear before the interrogating officer on Mondays and Fridays for a further period of two weeks. They shall continue to report before the investigating officer for interrogation as and when required. If arrested, they shall be released on bail on executing bonds for Rs 1 lakh each with two solvent sureties each for the like sum,” HC said on January 20.

“The accused cannot leave India without the permission of a jurisdictional court. They shall not influence the witnesses or tamper with the evidence. They shall fully corporate with the investigation subjecting themselves to deemed custody as observed in Gurbachan Singh and Sushila Aggarwal cases for the purpose of discovery or identification if any,” the single bench said.