Space agency scam: Ex ISRO chief calls charges against him 'stupid'

Coimbatore: Former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair today termed as "the stupidest thing to happen to anybody", the charges levelled against him over the Antrix-Devas deal."That is the stupidest thing to happen to anybody," he told reporters to a specific question on his indictment over the ISRO-Devas deal. He, however, refused to elaborate his statement as the case is sub-judice.[caption id="attachment_629909" align="alignleft" width="380"] G Madhavan Nair. AFP.[/caption]Nair, who was addressing students of Sri Krishna Institution on 'technological challenges for national development', also refused to comment on ISRO's Man Moon Mission, a project proposed by him.However, he said there should be more budget allocation for such projects and also leadership of calibre to take forward such a mission. On February 4, 2012 a committee set up by ISRO indicted Nair and three other senior scientists, who were barred from holding any government posts, for "acts of commission" in the deal.The report prepared by a five-member committee headed by Pratyush Sinha, former Chief Vigilance Commissioner said the deal lacked transparency and recommended action against Nair, A Bhaskaranarayana, K R Sridhara Murthi and K N Shankara -- all of whom have retired.It said the terms of Antrix-Devas contract "were heavily loaded in favour of Devas". Antrix is ISRO's commercial venture and Devas is a private firm and the controversial deal has since been annulled.PTI