Former chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Mr G. Madhavan Nair, has submitted before the Kochi bench of Central Administrative Tribunal that ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan is also guilty in the controversial Antrix-Devas contract.
In a reply to the union government, Mr Nair argued that he was not responsible for entering into an agreement on January 28, 2005 between Antrix and Devas.
“The commitment for building the second satellite was made in September 2009 and Radhakrishnan was a member of the Space Commission which endorsed it. He had participated in the deliberations. The minutes of the meeting were approved by him in March 2010. So the culpability of Radhakrishnan is no way different,” Mr Madhavan Nair told the tribunal in an affidavit.
He said that no unusual concessions were made in the agreement. The investment was a part of the regular research and development work.
The centre had reiterated its stand against the former chairman after he moved the tribunal challenging its decision to bar him from holding any government jobs.
He also challenged the order of the Department of Space to terminate him from the post of Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor for his alleged role in the controversial allocation of S-band space segment to the private firm Devas. The tribunal will consider the case on September 20.