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The Rediff Interview/ Mariam Rasheeda

'Nayanar believes there is no case. But he is under pressure from partymen to do something'

It was a classic case of injustice, a spy scandal that never was. When the Indian Space Research Organisation story first shook the nation three-and-a-half years ago, there were few who believed the accused were innocent. It had all the ingredients for the media to play it big -- and play it big the media did, in the process adding lies, half-lies and half-truths to the case... till fiction became facts and facts were labelled fiction.

Now, finally, the nightmare is over for the six accused. After a series of investigations and court procedures, the ISRO scandal has been shown up for the cock-and-bull story it is -- on April 29, the Supreme Court exonerated the accused and ordered the Kerala government to pay each of them Rs 100,000 as compensation. Venu Menon speaks to Maldivian Mariam Rasheeda, the only accused who was refused bail and had to exist behind bars for the entire length of proceedings, and ISRO scientist D Sasikumaran who, along with colleague S Nambi Narayanan, was supposed to have 'sold' national secrets to foreign powers:

MARIAM RASHEEDA:

Chief Minister Nayanar plans to approach the court for a review of the case. Does that worry you?

According to my information, Nayanar believes there is no case. But he is under pressure from his partymen to do something.

Is it true that Fauzia Hassan has admitted on video that she had received a cover from ISRO scientist Sasikumaran?

The police threatened to rape Fauzia's daughter in front of her. She was frightened and she cooked up a story in front of the camera.

Did you meet any of your ISRO friends after your release?

No. I am not interested in meeting them. They are not of my standard. I made a mistake in talking to them. I talked to them without knowing who they were. When I met Sasikumaran I thought he was a doctor. I didn't know he was a scientist. He didn't tell me he was a scientist.

The police say you were an agent for the Maldives government and that you were keeping track of other Maldivian nationals in Kerala.

That is not true. The police forced me to sign many blank papers. I was beaten. When I was taken before the magistrate I was too frightened to reveal the police cruelties.

The IB man who came from Delhi came with fixed ideas which they wanted to build on: D Sasikumaran

The Rediff Interviews