How and why does the Indian Council of Agricultural Research protect corrupt people and promote corruption?
Context: In an investigation in 2012, it was confirmed that Glander's diagnostic antigen, supplied and produced only by the ICAR-IVRI, Izatnagar was not produced using either standard Burkholderia mallei nor using any other strain of Burkholderia mallei, but was produced using a Micrococcus strain (a yellow-coloured bacterium). The matter was investigated repeatedly, and finally it was established that the Mallein produced and supplied by the Institute was a fake one. The use of the same fake mallein was done by ICAR-NRCE-Equine, Hisar, for the diagnosis and culling of the sick horses. Hundreds of falsely diagnosed Glander-positive horses were ordered to be killed, but certainly they were not sick, and thousands of truly Glander-positive horses were left to spread the Glander all over India. The spreading of Glanders despite thorough surveillance by ICAR-NRC(E) and culling of horses could not contain the disease, and finally led to the implementation of the Glanders control Program for millions of rupees (still going on). However, neither action was taken against those scientists who produced and sold the Fake diagnostic antigen, nor was the Director of the ICAR-IVRI (at that time Dr. Gaya Prasad) questioned for the anti-national deeds; probably a lot of money was involved.
Some scientists were found involved in the production of and supply of malicious diagnostic material for the diagnosis of Glanders that lead to the spreading of Glanders in the whole of the country, a disease eradicated in1993 from India, leading to the killing of thousands of healthy horses and the escape of really sick horses, those might have spread the disease further, due to the use of the faulty diagnostic antigen. An RTI number ICARH-R1E1221OOS43 dated O5.12.2O22, regarding the outcome of the request to investigate the complaint dated 09-09-2020 under the Public Interest Disclosure was placed by the Under Secretary Vigilance-I, Mr. Ravi K Dobriyal, of ICAR, New Delhi, to DDG AS on 05-11-2020, from there it was sent tothe Director ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, India. On investigation at the Institute level, the complaint was found truthful. In this concern, an email was written by the Joint Director Research of ICAR-IVRI, on 4 June 2021, to the AAO E-I to request the Director ICAR-IVRI to write to the DDG AS for forming a committee led bya Vigilance officer to report to ICAR, New Delhi.
To know the outcome, an RTI ICARH-R/E/22/00543 dated O5.12.2O22 was filed.
The reply is here: The matter is under investigation; information can not be provided.
Then again, the RTI (ICARH/R/E/26/00058 dated 14.02.2026) was filed with the same request to get:
1. Certified copy of the Director, ICAR-IVRI request to DDG AS for forming the enquiry committee in the above-referred matter.
2. Certified copy of the order indicating the name and designation of the proposed committee members to investigate the case referred to above.
3. Outcome of the investigation by the committee at point 1: Kindly provide the certified copy of the committee report.
4.
Certified copy of the final Decision taken against the scientists who acted as
traitors to the nation.
The reply is as follows:
With regard to the specific documents requested, it is stated that copies of detailed investigation reports, note-sheets, internal correspondence, and portions of records forming part of vigilance files cannot be provided, as these contain sensitive information, including identities of officials, complainants, and witnesses, as well as confidential inputs obtained during the vigilance process. Disclosure of such information is exempt under Sections 8(1)(g) and 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005.
Further, certain records involve third-party information and fiduciary inputs obtained during vigilance examination. Disclosure of such material would result in unwarranted invasion of privacy and may compromise the confidentiality essential to vigilance proceedings.
In this regard, it is also informed that disclosure of note-sheets and internal file records relating to vigilance matters has been denied under section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act, 2005, in view of the settled law laid down bythe Hon'ble Central Information Commission in Shri. Satya Vijay Singh vs Central Vigilance Commission (Decision dated 08.02.2017) and earlier decisions, including K.L. Bablani vs. DG Vigilance (ClC/AT/A/2009/000617), wherein the Commission, inter alia, held that:
Disclosure of vigilance file notings may expose officers to intimidation, harassment, or retaliatory litigation. Confidentiality of vigilance file notings is essential for effective and objective functioning of vigilance administration, and such information attracts exemption under Sections 8(1)(g) and 8(1)( j ) read with section 2(n) of the RTI Act, 2005.
Accordingly, the information requested vide RTI Application No. ICARH/R/E/26/00058 dated 14.02.2026 cannot be provided under Sections 8(1)(g) and 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005.
No action was ever taken against those scientists who produced and distributed the fake Glanders Diagnostic antigen for decades. No action was taken against the Director of ICAR-IVRI (at that time Dr. Gaya Prasad), who deliberately kept on selling the fake antigen despite knowing the truth.



