The Kerala High Court on Friday granted advance notice to former police and Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials, including former Gujarat ADGP RB Sreekumar and former Kerala DGP Sibi Mathews, in a case of alleged framing of a former ISRO scientist in the 1994 ISRO espionage case. 

These former officers got conditional bail from Justice K. Babu's single bench, former Kerala Police officers S. Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt and retired intelligence officer PS Jayaprakash were granted anticipatory bail with conditions. 

 

The Supreme Court had canceled the previous order, the High Court had given him anticipatory bail in 2021 also, but the Supreme Court had canceled that order. After this, the High Court heard afresh the bail applications of the five accused. The Supreme Court had remanded the matter back to the High Court saying that the order had been passed without considering certain aspects. 

 

The High Court has kept these conditions for bail to the accused, the High Court said, the accused will have to appear before the CBI between 10 am to 11 am on January 27 for questioning. They will continue to appear before the Inquiry Officer on Mondays and Fridays for a period of two weeks. They will continue to report to the Investigating Officer for questioning as and when required. If they are arrested, they will be released on bail on a surety of Rs 1 lakh each. 

The court further said, the accused cannot leave India without the permission of the judicial court. They shall not influence witnesses or tamper with evidence. The court further ruled that the accused would have to fully cooperate with the investigation, as seen in the case of Gurbachan Singh and Sushila Agarwal.