Indian agencies have found serious fraud in the Antrix Corporation’s deal with Devas Multimedia
Supreme Court of India on Thursday stayed the order of West Washington District Court granting 1.2 billion dollars compensation to Devas Multimedia from Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) commercial arm Antrix Corporation. The Antrix Corporation of ISRO approached India’s apex court against the October 27 order by the US district court and Attorney General of India K K Venugopal categorically said Devas Multimedia’s contract with Antrix Corporation is canceled due to the big corruption charges by Indian probe agencies. This development in the Supreme Court of India has nullified all chances to Devas Multimedia which is an accused firm in Indian courts from getting any sort of compensation through US Courts.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued for ISRO in the apex court of India. The Bench of Chief Justice of India S A Bobde, Justices A S Bopanna, V Ramasubramanium put on hold the international arbitration award of 1.2 billion dollars and also transferred the cases to Delhi High Court from Bengaluru. The Attorney General K K Venugopal denied the possibility of mediation on the ground that Indian agencies have already found serious fraud in the Antrix Corporations deal with Devas Multimedia for developing Satellites. Devas deal was canceled by the Government of India following the 2G Scam in India. It was interesting to note that former Attorney General of India Mukul Rohatgi appeared for scam-hit Devas Multimedia. He denied the current AG’s charges[1].
On October 27, Judge Thomas S Zilly, US District Judge, Western District of Washington, Seattle ruled that ISRO’s Antix Corporation pay 1.2 billion dollars compensation to Devas Multimedia Corporation for the cancellation of the contract in developing Satellites[2].
The Devas scam was exposed soon after the 2G Scam expose in India in 2010. Devas was a start-up firm with addresses in Bangaluru and in Washington floated by retired ISRO scientists and in collusion, with their colleagues in ISRO, they made a tailor-made contract for developing Satellites in 2005. CBI has charge-sheeted then ISRO Chief Madhavan Nair and many scientists for this fraudulent deal.
References:
[1] Supreme Court Stays International Award Asking ISRO Arm Antrix To Pay Compensation To Devas – Nov 05, 2020, Live Law
[2] US court asks Antrix to pay $1.2 billion compensation to Bengaluru startup – Oct 30, 2020, ToI
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