CBI continues to question ISRO ex-chief on Antrix deal

The CBI questioned former ISRO chief G. Madhavan Nair for the second consecutive day on Friday in connection with an alleged loss of Rs.578 crore in an agreement between multi-media company Devas and Antrix, the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation.

Nair was questioned for over seven hours at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters here, CBI sources said. Nair was questioned for over five hours on Thursday.

Nair was asked to explain the reasons which led to the agreement with Devas Multimedia Pvt. Ltd., said CBI sources.

The CBI sleuths also questioned Nair on the technical capability of Devas.

"Nair was also asked if there was any consultation with other ministries like the telecom and information and broadcasting while signing the agreement," the sources said.

"Nair gave his explanation and the CBI will examine it."

The CBI filed a first information report in the case in Bengaluru on March 16, 2015, under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Those booked were the then executive director of Antrix K.R. Sridhara Murthi, US-based Forge Advisors officials M.G. Chandrasekhar and R. Vishwanathan, Bengaluru-based Devas Multi-media Private Limited and unnamed officials of Antrix Corporation Ltd., ISRO and the department of space.

The Antrix-Devas deal saw an early exit of Nair as ISRO chairman since he was the head of Antrix governing council when the deal was finalised in January 2005.

--IANS

rak/tsb/vt