'What's his contribution': Former Kerala cop questions Padma Award to Nambi Narayanan

Former Kerala DGP TP Senkumar has questioned the Government's decision to confer the Padma award on ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan, asking for an explanation of his contributions to the country.

"The Supreme Court appointed a committee to find out what happened in ISRO. How can they award him before the findings come out?" Senkumar has said. 

"The persons who have sponsored and awarded Padma Bhushan to Nambi Narayanan should explain what his contribution to the country was," he said.

The former DGP said while he was investigating the scientist, there were about 4000 people from ISRO, who did not respond positively when asked about Narayan.

"Once I had asked former ISRO Chief G Madhavan Nair what had Nambi Narayanan. contributed? The people who have sponsored and awarded Padma to Nambi Narayanan have the responsibility to explain the contribution of an under average scientist who had applied for voluntary retirement in 1994," Narayan said.

He further said that the national honour should be conferred on the scientist only after the completion of the probe against him.

"I would appreciate if he is conferred with even Bharat Ratna after the Supreme Court committee probe is completed and his innocence is proven. I will write it in my book in detail," the former Kerala DGP said.

Former ISRO scientist Narayanan was arrested in an alleged espionage case in November 1994. The scientist was reportedly accused of selling vital Indian space technology secrets to Pakistan. The

Supreme Court had, however, cleared him of spying charges and termed his arrest as "needless" and "unnecessary."

ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan, former Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Kariya Munda, Actor Mohanlal, veteran journalist Kuldeep Nayyar (posthumous), Indian mountaineer Bachendri Pal and Lok Sabha MP Hukmdev Narayan Yadav have been selected for the Padma Bhushan award.