Hello
The death sentence was pronounced in October after the Navy personnel were detained in August 2022. The charges against them are not known, but reports hinted they have been held for espionage.
Bail was granted on the condition that if arrested, the accused should be released only on a bond of Rs 1 lakh and two sureties for the same amount.
SC also granted the accused protection from arrest for a period of five weeks in exchange for their assistance with the inquiry.
The probe agency sought adjournment of the hearing and four weeks' time for filing rejoinder to the replies filed by the accused police officers to its appeal challenging the grant of anticipatory bail, saying that some of its officials dealing with the case were down with COVID-19.
The CBI made the submission even as the top court agreed to hear its plea challenging the Kerala High Court order granting anticipatory bail to four persons, including a former DGP, in connection with the ISRO espionage case.
The plea came up for hearing before a bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and C T Ravikumar which issued notice on the petition and posted it for hearing on November 29.
The agency has initiated action in a secret operation last month in which two retired Navy personnel and as many private persons in addition to the Navy officer were taken into custody.
Mathews, the then head of the SIT probe team, moved the court after reports that the CBI had listed him among the 18 accused in the FIR.
The Supreme Court had acquitted Dr Narayanan and awarded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for the immense humiliation the case had caused him.
The compensation has been given for settling the case filed by 78-year-old Narayanan against the government in a sub-court here seeking enhanced damages for his illegal arrest and harassment.