CPI(M) demands impartial probe into Antrix-Devas deal

 The CPI(M) today demanded an independent and impartial enquiry into the S-band spectrum deal between ISRO firm Antrix and private firm Devas, saying senior scientists should not be pronounced guilty on the basis of only a government report.

"What is required is an independent and impartial enquiry. To pronounce senior scientists guilty only on the basis of one government report is not correct," party Politburo member Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.

The party had earlier demanded an independent time-bound high-level enquiry by a retired judge of the Supreme Court, following an expose on the S-band spectrum deal involving Antrix and Devas Multimedia.

Through this agreement, the private firm was to get access to high quality spectrum of 70 MHz through the launching of two custom-made satellites. The presumptive loss of revenue to the government would have been at least Rs two lakh crore, reports had said.

Former ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair, who along with three of his colleagues, has been found allegedly guilty in two government reports, has said he was awaiting some favourable response from the Prime Minister to revoke the blacklist.

He has maintained that he and his former colleagues were victims of a "systematic witch-hunt".