New Delhi: CBI today questioned former ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair in connection with the case registered by the agency for probing alleged Rs 578-crore "wrongful" gain to a private multi-media company Devas by Antrix, the commercial arm of ISRO.
Mr Nair was summoned to the CBI headquarters in Delhi this morning and asked about the details of the contract signed between Antrix Corporation and Devas Multimedia Private Limited on January 28, 2005 during his tenure as chairman of ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space.
The Antrix-Devas deal had seen early exit of Mr Nair as Chairman of ISRO as he was the Chairman of the Governing Council of Antrix when the deal was finalised.
An FIR was lodged against Murthi, MG Chandrasekhar and R Vishwanathan of Forge Advisors, Devas Multi-media Private Limited and unnamed officials of Antrix, ISRO and Department of Space in a designated court in Bengaluru.
It is alleged that the accused people had entered into a criminal conspiracy and the government officials abused their position by favouring Devas by giving them rights for delivery of videos, multimedia and information services to mobile phones using S-Band through GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A satellites and terrestrial systems in India.
CBI said that a deal between Antrix and Devas was fixed in principle in January 2005 for lease of S-Band transponders.
The change in the board, where a US company represented by Chandrashekar and Vishwanathan had majority stakes, was never verified by Antrix as the agreement had been in violation of Shankara Committee which had recommended execution of any such agreement with an Indian company only, it was contended.
Mr Nair was summoned to the CBI headquarters in Delhi this morning and asked about the details of the contract signed between Antrix Corporation and Devas Multimedia Private Limited on January 28, 2005 during his tenure as chairman of ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space.
The Antrix-Devas deal had seen early exit of Mr Nair as Chairman of ISRO as he was the Chairman of the Governing Council of Antrix when the deal was finalised.
An FIR was lodged against Murthi, MG Chandrasekhar and R Vishwanathan of Forge Advisors, Devas Multi-media Private Limited and unnamed officials of Antrix, ISRO and Department of Space in a designated court in Bengaluru.
Advertisement
It is alleged that the accused people had entered into a criminal conspiracy and the government officials abused their position by favouring Devas by giving them rights for delivery of videos, multimedia and information services to mobile phones using S-Band through GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A satellites and terrestrial systems in India.
Advertisement
CBI said that a deal between Antrix and Devas was fixed in principle in January 2005 for lease of S-Band transponders.
Advertisement
The change in the board, where a US company represented by Chandrashekar and Vishwanathan had majority stakes, was never verified by Antrix as the agreement had been in violation of Shankara Committee which had recommended execution of any such agreement with an Indian company only, it was contended.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Backed By Supreme Court Order, Government Says Will Target Devas Assets Deal On Congress Watch Was "Fraud On India," Says Nirmala Sitharaman: 10 Points Former ISRO Chief Explains The Importance Of Space Assets In India-China Standoff In Ladakh Walmart Employee's Big Claim After Indian-Origin Teen Found Dead In Oven Who Was Gursimran Kaur, Indian Teen Found Dead In Walmart Oven Businessman's Rs 1 Crore Rolex Gift To Contractor For Building His "Fortress" North Korea Says It Test-Fired Latest ICBM Hwasong-19 On Thursday Ex-Armyman Opens Fire At Man Over Parking Dispute In Pune; Arrested US Elections: 60 Million Cast Early Votes In Kamala Harris-Trump Tight Race Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.