Top aerospace scientist Roddam Narasimha, who probed the controversial Antrix-Devas deal, has quit as member of the Space Commission, upset over the action against former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair and others in connection with the deal.

Narasimha had sent his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, sources said.

Asked about Narasimha's resignation, Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanasamy said the scientist should reconsider his decision.

"Prof. Narasimha is a very renowned scientist. We hold him in very high esteem. I request Prof. Narasimha to reconsider his decision," the minister said.

The scientist, who along with B K Chaturvedi, Member, Planning Commission had reviewed the Antrix-Devas deal, had said that they had found no evidence of any wrong doing or fraud or personal gain.

"He knows pretty well how the agreement was signed," Narayanasamy said when pointed out that Narasimha was the one who had probed the deal.

Nair and three other scientists were barred from government jobs for their alleged involvement in the Antrix-Devas deal.

A celebrated scientist, Narasimha was the chairman of the Engineering Mechanics Unit at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research and also holds the Pratt & Whitney chair in science and engineering at the University of Hyderabad.

Narasimha has authored over 200 research papers and is a recipient of several awards including the Padma Bhushan.