Former ICAR Member Alleges Deep-Rooted Corruption, Calls for Court-Monitored Investigation
New Delhi, May 11 – The mysterious death of renowned agricultural scientist and Padma Shri awardee Dr. Subbanna Ayyappan has sparked demands for a court-monitored CBI investigation, with serious allegations of institutional corruption and administrative failure within premier agricultural bodies.Venugopal Badaravada, a former member of the Governing Body of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, expressing deep concerns over what he termed the "untimely and troubling" circumstances surrounding Ayyappan's death.
He stated, “His scooter was found abandoned, and the cause of his death remains unclear. These circumstances demand a court-monitored CBI investigation.”
Allegations of Vendetta and Institutional Collapse
Dr. Ayyappan, aged 70, was discovered dead in the Cauvery River near Srirangapatna, Karnataka, on Saturday. His body was recovered three days after he was reported missing on May 7. His two-wheeler was found parked near the riverbank, prompting local police to suspect that he may have jumped into the river, though no conclusive evidence has been provided.Badaravada alleged that Ayyappan’s death might be linked to "institutional vendetta or administrative collapse", citing growing concerns from the scientific and farming communities. He pointed fingers at ICAR, the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), and associated bodies for what he called systemic corruption, irregular appointments, and misuse of power.
Whistleblower Silenced?
Adding to the controversy, Badaravada claimed that he himself was “unlawfully” removed from ICAR’s Governing Body on May 5 through a “one-sided office order without conducting a serious inquiry”. He suggested that this was part of a broader effort to silence whistleblowers within the institution.“This unlawful removal reflects a dangerous trend within ICAR, silencing whistleblowers while shielding entrenched corruption,” he said.
Legacy of a Visionary Scientist
Dr. Ayyappan, a resident of Mysuru’s Vishweshwara Nagar Industrial Area, was the first non-crop specialist to lead ICAR and was widely credited for spearheading India’s 'Blue Revolution' through advancements in fisheries and aquaculture. He was reported missing by his family at the Vidyaranyapuram Police Station, with reports noting that he regularly visited the Saibaba ashram on the Cauvery Riverbank for meditation.He is survived by his wife and two daughters. His sudden death has cast a pall of shock across India’s agricultural and scientific communities, who are now calling for transparency and accountability in the ongoing investigation.