The Master Seed (the breeder seed) of Corruption in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
What to do when a higher competent authority decides to appoint one Corrupt-Fraud-Embezzler Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra first as DG-ICAR and Now much more?
By Dr. Sandeep Pahal
Advocate
(Filed several complaints about this prolific and weather-resistant seed of corruption. The complaints were filed time and again to 1. Mr. Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, New Delhi; 2. Union of India through Cabinet Secretary, Govt. of India, New Delhi; 3. Mr. Rajiv Gauba, Cabinet Secretary, Govt. of India, Chairman ASRB, New Delhi; 4. Secretary (by name), GoI, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, New Delhi (Kindly inform the concerned authorities); 5. Director (by name), CBI, New Delhi; 6.Chief Vigilance Commissioner (by name), Central Vigilance Commission, New Delhi. But of no avail, seems as if the whole system has rotten.
1. Dr.
Trilochan Mahapatra, Former DG, ICAR has been nominated for the post of
Chairperson, PPVR & Farmers Right Authority, but the result is kept in
abeyance. In fact, planning is that meanwhile he will be placed as Chairperson,
ASRB, New Delhi. Thus to accommodate him two very important posts were kept in
abeyance.
2.
A powerful officer of
the PMO and other anti-agriculture/farmer forces are trying to select Dr. Trilochan
Mohapatra for the position of chairman of the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment
Board (ASRB-Chairman). This is the same Mohapatra who once grabbed the post of Director
General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (DG-ICAR) without
application and without qualification. At that time, the search- cum- selection
committee had shortlisted 8 names out of the total 36 applications received and
later on added Mahapatra's name on their behalf and also selected them for the
position of DG-ICAR for a regular tenure of 5 years, and also gave one-year
extension followed by three months service extension.
3. The story is that, in Feb
2022, the post of chairperson ASRB was advertised, but at its initial inception, Dr. Mahapatra
was one of the members of the Selection Committee. But when he realized that
his tenure as DG, ICAR would not be extended, then he dropped the position of
member Selection Committee and submitted his bio-data for the post of Chairman
ASRB by back door entry after closing dates.
4.
Dr. Mohapatra had attempted to adopt the same hit
formula for getting the post of ASRB Chairman. The search -cum- selection
committee for the post of ASRB Chairman about an advertisement made in
2022, in which Dr. Mohapatra was a member;
called 7 candidates for an interview on 09.05.2022 but the interview was postponed
due to unknown reasons. After this the real game started, Dr. Mohapatra resigns
from the post of member of the search -cum- selection committee and the same search
committee nominated him and 02 other scientists separately as dummy candidates
for an interview on 08.06.2022. But the interview of 08.06.2022 was also postponed
due to a complaint dated 06.06.2022 written by an advocate of the Supreme Court
for the irregularity said above. Then, the search -cum- selection committee,
after canceling the nomination of the three scientists including the nomination
of Dr. Mohapatra, took the interview of the original 7 candidates on
12.08.2022 and made a panel of three scientists and sent it to the Appointments
Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) of the government of India through DOPT, on
which no action was taken and returned back to DARE for advertisement.
5.
Three times interviews
for the post of Chairman ASRB for the 2022 advertisement have been postponed to
accommodate him, however, finally looking into complicacy in his selection, the interview was held and the panel was prepared and forwarded to DOPT and finally to
ACC. However, that panel was dropped and sent back to DARE, New Delhi without
assigning any reason for the same, because the idea was to accommodate Dr. T.
Mahapatra.
6.
Now in January 2023,
again the post of Chairman ASRB was advertised to accommodate Dr. Mahapatra. Now
everything has been planned purposefully and the interview is scheduled by the competent authority.
7. An interesting thing is why the selection procedure adopted in 2022 was rejected without any assigning
reason thereof and then why again the post was advertised in 2023.
8.
When Dr. Mahapatra withdrew his candidature from the post of ASRB Chairman in the 2022 advertisement
on opposition raised by several persons, then why he has been allowed entry
in the 2023 advertisement. The important question is why policymakers have not
finalized candidates for the post of Chairman ASRB through advertisements made in
2022.
9. Further,
when a competent authority has selected him as Chairperson in PPVR & FR in December 2022, then why the offer was not given to him to date. It
is a clear-cut conspiracy and a step towards placing Dr. Mahapatra as Chairman of ASRB. It is only because he is the most corrupt person and earned money like
anything during DG's tenure and even as acting Chairman of ASRB. It is a clear-cut
case of corruption and vigilance.
10. It is in the public domain how Dr. Mohapatra reduced the performance of ICAR during his tenure of 6 years
and 3 months while in the post of DG-ICAR and now if such an incompetent person
gets the position of ASRB-Chairman, then he will also bring this board to a
dilapidated condition.
11. According to the information
received from the sources, the powerful officer of PMO and
anti-agriculture/farmer forces have planned to cancel the panel prepared for
ASRB-Chairman in place of the 2022 advertisement and now it will be followed
by its re-advertisement and selection of Dr. Mahapatra on this post.
· Department of Personal & Training,
Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances & Pensions, GoI – Handbook For
Inquiry Officers and Disciplinary Authorities Chapter -7 –
“Point
4 – What are the cases which may be investigated departmentally?
Cases involving allegations of
misconduct other than an offense, or a departmental irregularity or negligence,
and those wherein alleged facts are capable of verification or inquiry within
the department/office should be investigated departmentally.”
“Point
5 – What are the cases to be referred to CBI or Police?
Allegations involving offenses punishable under the law which the Delhi Special Police Establishment is authorized to investigate; such as offenses involving bribery, corruption, forgery, cheating, criminal breach of trust, falsification of records, possession of assets disproportionate to the known source of income, etc.”
It
is about multiple cases of maladministration, malpractices and RAMPANT
ABUSE OF RULE OF LAW in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR, under the Ministry of Agriculture
& Farmers’ Welfare) under the umbrella of Dr. T. Mohapatra. None dares to
record the facts and rule under the present DG for fear of severe revengeful acts.
CVC, CIC, Judiciary, DoPT, Cabinet Secretariat, PMO, Ministry of Finance, the assurance given by Agriculture Minister to Parliament specific directives are
blatantly flouted.
A
few illustrative instances, of involvement of the covert and overt involvement
of Dr. T. Mohapatra in the crimes committed by his well-oiled SYNDICATE, are as
under with evidence; more related evidence shall be collected from original
files. Proper investigation in a time-bound manner by independent
officers, not associated as serving/retired officers of DARE &ICAR, New
Delhi is a must.
I.
Dr.
Rajkumar Singh Ex-Direcrot IVRI, Izzatnagar, Bareilly -
I.
The author sent a complaint to various authorities about the
Scams by Dr. Rajkumar Singh, the then Director, IVRI, Izatnagar, Bareilly
(U.P.) with evidence for immediate departmental and legal action on 24-07-2020, and an advance copy is also sent to Dr. Rajkumar.
II.
ICAR,
New Delhi vide letter dated 28th July 2020 asked to confirm that the complaint was sent by me (the undersigned
herein), in response the undersigned sent an Affidavit dated 07-08-2020 for the confirmation of the complaint dated
24-07-2020.
III.
A committee headed by Dr. A.K. Tyagi, ADG (at
least two ranks junior to the corrupt official, to get the report of his choice
as Dr. Tyagi is two ranks junior to Dr. Mohapatra and works under his subordination)
was constituted to inquire the complaint dated 24-07-2020.
IV.
Through various RTI applications the undersigned tried to get
the action taken report on the complaint
dated 24-07-2020. Reply dated 23-08-2021
reveals that the complaint of about 100 crores of loss to the exchequer knowingly
by Dr. Rajkumar Singh, Director, IVRI, Izatnagar, Bareilly by misusing his
govt. post and by fulfilling his unethical interests, in gross violation of the
law, rules, and regulations has executed illegal works and ruined the
research work in IVRI, Izatnagar, Bareilly has been duly closed with the
approval of the DG, ICAR.
V.
DG ICAR the main culprit behind closing the complaint of
corruption of about 100 Crore rupees has been closed by Dr. Trilochan
Mohapatra, Secretary DARE & Director General ICAR.
VI.
Undersigned has asked for a copy of FIR or legal action
taken against the complainant as the closure of the complaint proves that the complaint
is false, the reply states NIL.
VII.
Dr. Mohapatra is instrumental in awarding extensions to several ICAR directors even after their retirement and the present Director of
ICAR-NDRI is a live example. These kinds of favors must have some cost in the form of bribes, hiding the crime, etc. He even recommended an extension of Dr. R.K.
Singh, ex-Director ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar for two
years after his retirement but probably on the complaint of the undersigned,
the illegal extension was not materialized.
VIII.
He is busy with all violations of seniority as he got benefits
from it the current example is ‘giving charge of Joint Directors Research and
Joint Director CADRAD to much-much junior scientist ignoring seniority of more
than 20 principal scientists and head of division in ICAR-Indian Veterinary
Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly.
II.
Dr.
Indra Mani –
i.
Serious cases of corruption received from CVC
are willfully not acted upon. Dr. Inder Mani is the Head of, the Division of
Agricultural Engineering, at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New
Delhi. He used to manipulate and collaborate with students to publish fake
research papers by misusing his official position while usurping the intellectual
property of other scientists of IARI, working under him, for his personal gains
and harming other scientists by robbing their scientific achievements.
ii.
Many students were
awarded Ph.D. degrees through maneuverings and “managing” the support from Dr.
Indra Mani. These theses are available in the public domain
(http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in) which itself speaks volumes about scientific
fraud by the student under the cover of Dr. Indra Mani as Chairman of the Advisory
Committee of the student.
iii.
Dr. Inder Mani
knowingly misused his govt. post has committed a breach of trust,
misappropriation of public money, and knowingly committed fraudulent acts which
is a punishable offense under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC also.
iv.
CVC letters and
complaints against Dr. Indra Mani are dumped.
v.
Misusing of Govt.
vehicle and blow to state exchequer by Dr. Indra Mani can be easily proved by
going into the log book of the vehicle he used.
III.
Mr.
Pushpender Kumar, Jt. Dir(Admin), IARI,
Pusa, New Delhi –
As per my knowledge, numerous officials have been posted for extraordinarily long
tenures at one station, in clear violation of the explicit policy of CVC Circular
No 03/09/13 dated 11-09-2013 regarding “Rotation of officials working in the sensitive post”. The complicity of CVO (Mr. Shaleen Agarwal) is also clear. The
work distribution (since joining service in ICAR till date) in respect of Mr.
Pushpender Kumar too needs critical scrutiny. Hundreds of frauds are done by
Mr. Pushpender; one recent illustrative instance should shock any upright
officer, as being nourished by Dr. T. Mohapatra. At the end of 2021, a copy of the complaint made by the DGM of Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam (UPRNN) was sent by
CVC to ICAR for necessary action involving corruption to the tune of Rs. 600
(Rs. Six hundred crores), to begin with. The complaint was about a tender
for consultancy services for IARI, Assam which was stage-managed.
[The evaluation criterion for the consultancy services was designed so that
NPCC (now WAPCOS) gets the contract. There was complete arbitrariness in the evaluation criterion wherein presentation by the prospective firms was kept at
25 marks out of 100, 10 marks were given for having a regional office in North East.
Mr. Attari, who had worked earlier as project manager for the work awarded by
the IARI (he was later promoted to zonal manager), is at present retired and is
acting as a link between IARI and WAPCOS. Mr. O.P. Ola, ex-technical officer with
Mr. Pushpender Kr, IARI is also coordinating the construction activities for
the contractor engaged by M/s NPCC/WAPCOS] The veil of secrecy in the high
decibel corruption case (which is likely to be of higher denomination in the
coming days) shall be lifted by fearless officers having above board
integrity.[*complete details of following officials’ postings/tenures since
joining ICAR shall be obtained by calling for relevant service books/original
records. The illustrative names of those concerned in administration and finance, who
has been primarily posted in Delhi, in complete violation of CVC directives are
Ms. Sunita Sharma, Ms. Rajtarangini Banerjee, Ms. Rajshree Sunil, Ms. Sanjeevan Prakash, Mr. Pushpender Kumar;
Lakshman Singh, K.K. Sharma, Naresh Kumar Arora, V.K. Sharma, Rakesh Bhardwaj,
Suresh Kumar Sharma, S.K Gupta (Retd), Prashant Kumar, Prashant Kumar Sharma,
Girish Bhatt, Amit Kumar Marwadi, Ravi Dobriyal, Feroz Khan, Dilip Roy, Dinesh
Nagpal, Vishal Acharya, Ram Niwas, Vivek Purwar (last three at present at
Karnal, Haryana); Arvind Kumar, J.Ravi (ex-Director), Devender Kumar
(ex-Director, Finance), Nani Wadekar ex-Dy Secy (vig), K.N. Chaudhary (ex-DS),
Kanhaiya Chaudhary (ex-Director), A.K. Maithani (ex Sr.AO)].
IV.
Mr.
Ramesh Chand Meena, CAO –
He
is a habitual offender against whom many criminal cases are pending in the
courts of law.
For
consistently defying court orders he has not only been declared absconder but
the court has ordered lodging FIR and Dr. T. Mohapatra DG-ICAR is shielding
him. Accordingly, FIR No. 1250/2018
in Karnal City police station was lodged and in this connection criminal case
no. CHI/3894/2018 was registered. Charges have been framed on 20-11-2019 and
witnesses have been asked to depose on 16-08-2022. All these details were/are
available in the public domain Dr. T. Mohapatra and CVO Mr. Shaleen Agrawal for
huge monetary considerations gave vigilance clearance for his promotion some
time back.
V.
Dr.
B. Patnaik -
While
serving as Director, of DFMD (Directorate of Foot and Mouth Disease, till 2019) for
over a decade he plundered the whole institution. He always tried to ensure
that he gained financially through hook or crook. In one such case during
May-June, 2015 Dr. B. Patnaik signed one MOU with Arsh Biotech in consultation
with Agrinnovate India Ltd. for the development of certain formulations which would
purportedly lead to the eradication of Foot and Mouth Disease. There were a lot of
illegal financial transactions in the matter between the parties including Dr. K.M.L.
Pathak, (the then DDG, Animal Science) with M/s Arsh Biotech. When things went
into rough weather and underhand commitments were not fulfilled by Dr. B. Patnaik,
M/s Arsh Biotech filed a police case
with Inderpuri Police Station [FIR
No.304/15; P.S.Inderpuri, New Delhi] to be followed up in Patiala House Court and
Dr. Patnaik spent approx Rs. 18 lahks by making payments as litigation charges
out of govt. funds.
It goes without saying that any criminal case is always made out in a personal
capacity and govt./public servant cannot be defended in the manner adopted by
Dr. Patnaik. He managed Dr. T. Mohapatra for not making a vigilance case out
of his illegal acts in the signing of the MOU with M/s Arsh Biotech.
Dr.
Patnaik succeeded to the extent that no vigilance case was made out by ICAR but several approx Rs. 18 lakhs were recovered mainly due to constant
insistence from lower officials of vigilance, ICAR. Instead of imposing a major penalty in such very serious cases of
misconduct, DG gave him a safe retirement with all pensionary benefits.
While
Dr. B. Patnaik was working as Director, of DFMD, he signed an MOU with an
International organization started receiving grants (foreign funding), and
continued to look after his illegal financial interests. It is relevant to
point out that no MOU (any liability created with foreign institutions) can be
signed without the due approval of DARE. The same was NOT followed by Dr. Patnaik
as he was patronized by Dr. Mohapatra DG-ICAR. Not only that the illegal MOU
has been extended further some time back.
I am unaware of the end
result of the CBI Inquiry against him.
VI.
Mr.
Santosh Kumar Singh, Director(Law) –
Mr.
S.K. Singh got an APPOINTMENT IN ICAR AS
LEGAL ADVISER FRAUDULENTLY, COMPLAINTS WERE LODGED BUT DUE TO DEEP ROOTED NEXUS
with Dr. T. Mohapatrra, ALL COMPLAINTS WERE CLOSED BY ICAR WITHOUT PROPER
INVESTIGATION -
i).
Mr. S.K. Singh despite
being over-aged and despite not having the essential qualification of 10 years of active practice as an advocate, applied for the post of Legal Adviser of
ICAR. Due to his connivance with other corrupt officials of ICAR (mainly Mr.
K.N. Choudhary, the then Under Secretary (Adm.), Mr. S.K. Singh got the
rules amended in his favor, in the middle of the recruitment process, got
himself shortlisted through his reporting officer for the interview and ultimately,
despite lacking the essential qualification of 10 years of active practice as an
advocate, got himself fraudulently appointed as Legal Adviser of ICAR vide OM
dt. 08-12-2010. Mr. S.K. Singh’s appointment as Legal Adviser, at ICAR, was in
furtherance of a well-planned criminal conspiracy among and between officers of
ICAR.
ii).
The CIC also found the
mode of operation of Mr. S.K. Singh, in the discharge of official duties, ARBITRARY, and directed for inquiry:
The
CIC, vide its order dated 16-03-2021 in a second appeal before it, found the
integrity of Mr. S.K. Singh doubtful, vide instructions contained in para 7 of
its order, and took a very serious view of arbitrariness reflected in his
functioning. Accordingly, CIC directed the controlling authority of Mr. S.K.
Singh in ICAR Hqrs. to enquire into the matter about Mr. S.K. Singh's
official discharge of duties by deputing a suitable senior officer positively
within two months from the date of receipt of the order under
intimation to the CIC. However, due to his all-encompassing deep-rooted nexus, and undue influence of Mr. S.K. Singh in ICAR, the defaulter himself examined
the order of CIC, gave himself a clean chit, got a desired Inquiry Officer
nominated through D.G.-ICAR, who is not his controlling officer and got the
inquiry closed without any action. Clearly, the order of the Secretary, of ICAR to
inquire into the matter has illegally been circumvented by the interested
officers of ICAR.
iii).
Recent Audit Para for
giving excessive fees among other irregularities by Mr. Santosh Kumar Singh to
his chosen advocates.
iv).
Mr. S.K. Singh is the
right hand of Dr. Mohapatra DG-ICAR. He
is a man of doubtful integrity and he had been involved in various misconducts, irregularities, and corrupt practices. It is relevant to
mention the then Secretary, ICAR Mr. Arvind Kaushal’s comments about his
arbitrary functioning. The bills of one Mr. Ranjit Kumar were cleared only
after the intervention of then Secretary, ICAR Mr. Arvind Kaushal, who inter
alia observed in his note dated 07.08.2013 “Mr. A.K. Thakur, Special Secretary,
Department of Agriculture & Cooperation phoned me on 5.8.2013 and informed
that several bills of Mr. Ranjit Kumar, Senior Advocate, are pending with
ICAR for a very long time and the same are not being cleared despite his follow
up…The above position is extremely shocking and shows a lack of control on the
part of the L.A. about the matters handled in his Section. Apparently, no register in place may provide information as to what matters are
pending in the Section and for how long. It seems that the Section Officer and
the staff can sit on papers for years. I cannot rule out that these
bills had been kept pending for extraneous considerations...”
v).
Mr. S.K. Singh GOT HIS WIFE
NOMINATED AS PANEL ADVOCATE OF IARI -
It is understood that Mr.
S.K. Singh
abused his official position and pressurized the IARI officials to nominate his
wife as a panel Advocate of IARI, a constituent unit of ICAR. Thus, Mr.
S.K. Singh
abused his official position for getting his wife Ms. Kusum Singh, Advocate
nominated as a panel Advocate of IARI. Incidentally, Ms. Kusum Singh, Advocate,
wife of Mr. S.K. Singh, was a junior advocate attached to Mr. B.S. More, Advocate who was
another panel Advocate of ICAR. Thus, it may easily be inferred that any case is given by ICAR or IARI to Late B.S. More was, in fact, being given to Ms. Kusum
Singh, Advocate at the instance of Mr. S.K. Singh and ultimately, it appears, that the beneficiary
of the fee was Mr. S.K. Singh. The position w.r.t. empanelment of Ms. Kusum
Singh, Advocate in IARI may be verified from records of IARI.
vi).
WHISTLEBLOWER AND AN OFFICER
WHO IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO HIS MANDATE IS SEVERELY VICTIMIZED BY DR. T. MOHAPATRA
It is pertinent to note
that numerous complaints against Mr. S.K. Singh on serious
material grounds with conclusive documentary proof have been lodged including
misappropriation of govt. funds and his illegal appointment.
Despite several serious
complaints against Mr. S.K. Singh has never been
transferred from ICAR Headquarters in New Delhi. He was transferred by Ms. Sashi
Mishra, Secretary ICAR in 2003-04 to Pusa for a very short while, Rather the
whistleblower/officer of ICAR who lodged the complaints against Mr. S.K.
Singh was
arbitrarily transferred by illegally creating a post without mandatory sanction
or approval of Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India.
This fact is in the public domain and can also be verified from the records of
respondents. It is understood that the aforesaid whistleblower/ officer (Mr. Ashtosh
Gautam) was not transferred in the public interest, rather he was transferred to
protect and cover up the interest, corruption, and wrongs committed by Dr.
Mohapatra DG & Mr. S.K. Singh. This position needs to be verified by summoning
the complaints lodged against Mr. S.K. Singh from ICAR and the status thereof.
VII.
Corruption by Mr. G.G.
Harakangi, CAO (SG), IIHR, Bengaluru, and the collusive role of Mr. Ratnesh Kumar,
Jt. Secty (TS) is as under (Dr. Mohapatra is well aware and involved in his
tenure) -
In
the service of ICAR in the cadre of Administrative Officer (DR), Shri G.G.
Harakangi has worked for over 22 years at IIHR, Bangalore out of a total service
of 27 years.
While
working at IIHR he recruited six(6) Technical Assistants (T-3) in 2006-07 under
KVKs( Krishi Vigyan Kendras) operating under IIHR. All recruited TAs were
relatives of the staff of IIHR. In 2011-12 Mr. G.G. Harakangi ARBITRARILY
changed the terms of appointment and made them T-4 from the initial date of
appointment [Change of GP from Rs 2800 to Rs 4200 was effected] thereby causing
huge financial loss to govt exchequer regularly. This highly
irregular/arbitrary act continues to date. This was done by Harakangi for
illegal monetary considerations.
Shockingly,
the file of the Extension Division of ICAR Hq (KAB-II) dealing with this matter of
illegality has been made to go “missing” to save the kingpin – Mr. G.G.
Harakangi.
The
records are available in the vigilance division of ICAR and Mr. Harakangi was
issued a show cause notice in 2018 which turned out to be a cosmetic and eyewash
exercise. Mr. Ratnesh Kumar, Director of Technical Services) dealt with the
matter and regularized the illegality committed by Mr. Harkangi for extraneous
considerations.
It
may be mentioned that from 1995 to 2010 all the appointments of TAs (T-3) used to be made under KVKs under ICAR
by respective ICAR institutes at Rs 2800 G.P. The change in recruitment rule
was made applicable retrospectively from June 2010 onwards.
Given the clout and collusive role of very senior public servants in a case of
grave misconduct, I (aware citizen of India) call upon to entrust the detailed
and fair investigation to persons of the highest integrity credentials who are
neither serving nor retired from ICAR service.
All
efforts are underway to make the safe retirement of Mr. Ratnesh Kumar which is due
in two months.
VIII.
Arbitrarily
selective use of the Sexual Harassment Act,2013 –
Dr. A.R. Rao
(IASRI, Pusa) was involved in a serious case of sexual harassment and NCW also
intervened in the matter. Dr. Seema
Jaggi (IASRI) only followed the personal vindictive agenda of Dr. Mohapatra DG
while acting as chairperson of ICC. Regrettably, both were rewarded by DG by
promoting them to the post of ADG. Despite the criminal act of rape being taken due
cognizance of (about Mr. J.Ravi,
ex-Director, ASRB) by Hon’ble ASJ [Cr.C.No. 9391/17, FIR No94/17 P.S. InderPuri,
State vs J. Ravi]and forensic report also confirming the same, ab initio void departmental inquiry was
conducted by Dr. Mohapatra DG with the sole motive of saving his trusted
lieutenant. Mr. Anil Kumar Maithani,
ex-Sr.AO, IARI was also shielded in a sexual harassment case. He was also given a safe retirement in January 2021. It is learned that Dr. M. Sivaswami, Head, IARI (Wellington) was extended
extraordinarily favorable treatment despite a serious complaint by the complainant
lady staff. After Preliminary Inquiry Report dated 20-12-2016 the matter was
arbitrarily closed on 15-02-2018 and no action taken against Dr. M Sivaswami
was initiated despite the recommendation of the Women Complaint Committee letters.
Clearly,
huge monetary and other extraneous
considerations in reported matters of corruption are regularly going on under Dr T. Mohapatra.
All such arbitrary and selective treatments/favors cannot take place without the support of the syndicate operating in Vigilance.
IX.
Malpractices
in cases of irregularities in attendance etc.
Mr. Ram Niwas,
Administrative Officer, NDRI [attendance ID# 17381170] had zero attendance
from 01.01.2018 to 30.09.2019. BUT MR. RAM NIWAS HAS BEEN DRAWING HIS SALARY
DESPITE HIS ABSENCE FROM DUTY. THIS OFFICER OF DOUBTFUL INTEGRITY HAS BEEN
GIVEN NOT ONLY FULL PROTECTION BUT DG HAS ALSO GIVEN PROMOTION IN OCTOBER, 2021. He
has been occupying sensitive postings in NDRI for decades in violation of CVC
guidelines.
X.
There are many more
similar cases where huge extraneous considerations(cash and/or kind) determine
their fate.
That
vide File no.: CIC/CSWRI/A/2018/628995 dated 15/01/2020 it was ordered to ICAR
for disclosing the biometric attendance of public servants. However, thanks to
vested interests that are perpetrating under the active protection of DG, ICAR
no action against serious habitual defaulters takes place which includes senior
officers, as follows. Mr. Harshit
Agarwal, Sr AO [attendance details from 18/1/2016 to 31/12/2017; and from
1/1/2018 to 10/06/2018]; Mr. Rakesh
Bhardwaj [the then Sr.AO while posted to IGFRI, Jhansi during 2013-14 and
subsequently to CSSRI, Karnal] his complete attendance records has also been
full of malpractices in connivance with Vigilance, ICAR. It is also relevant to
mention that there were other serious cases of Mr. Rakesh Bhardwaj in financial
corruption in connivance with contractors, Mr. Balwan Singh Yadav, etc., Mr. Dinesh Nagpal, Under Secretary also was
very irregular. Mr. S.K. Behra, ex –Dy. Secty and Mr. Devender Kumar, ex-Director (Finance) also hardly used to mark
attendance in prescribed AEBAS at the relevant time. Similarly, Dr. K. Alagusundaram, ex-DDG
(Engineering) also used to spend most of his time in his hometown, Coimbatore
on official tours. DG is dishonestly/willingly not taking any punitive action
in these and many other verifiable cases of corruption. It is to be noted
that DG has been taking excessive punitive against some public servants on
motivated/ baseless complaints. This speaks volumes about the colorable use of
power for settling personal scores by DG.
XI.
Scam
in Transfers, Postings, Promotions, et al.
i).
In violation of
directives of GoI (Ministry of Finance) officials who go by the rule book are
punitively transferred, under the garb of “public interest”, to a place where
no such post exists. On the other hand, the favorite officials are not posted
to the designed sanctioned place of their postings. A case in point is that of
Southern Regional Station (SRS), Bangalore of NDRI where Mr. Vishal Acharya,
assistant finance & accounts officer (AFAO) was to be posted. Being a part
of well-oiled SYNDICATE (as in the case of Mr. Ram Niwas, now Sr AO, NDRI) Mr.
Vishal Acharya has “managed” his posting for decades in Karnal.
ii).
Recently, Mr. Vishal
Acharya has been found guilty in the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) financial scam in NDRI, Karnal
involving crores of rupees.
Instead of rigidly adopting the declared
policy of our govt of “zero tolerance towards corruption”, the concerned AFAO is
being allowed to continue in service. More shockingly, the guilty continue to work at the same place of posting so that he
remains a “kamaupoot” in plundering the public exchequer. Indeed, it is yet again all farcical/cosmetic
exercise by DG. This selectively favorable treatment given by DG can be
contrasted with the most vindictive treatment given to one public official in an audit who dares to record matters of financial irregularities and
maladministration.
iii).
On reporting cases of financial embezzlement and intentional
loss of public documents, the open threat for elimination and physical assault is
enacted in the office premises. Most shockingly, the convicted employees are given the fullest protection by the present DG,
ICAR. Motivated complaints are routinely concocted at the behest of interested
officials whereby vigilance is used as a tool to harass law-abiding public
servants. Principles of Natural Justice are intentionally flouted to severe
detriment to officers of impeccable integrity. Inquiry Officers’ Reports
despite not proving charges are vindictively and arbitrarily set aside.
Public
servants who are on the right side of the law and stick to their mandate without
fear or favor are subjected to manifold acts of severe harassment. Arbitrarily
stopping salary; double standards in matters of allowing work from home (WFH);
charge withdrawal from committed officials despite the assurance given by the Agriculture Minister to the Parliament and withdrawing basic office amenities
are a few such instances.
iv).
The unprecedented
matter of corruption/malpractices in the contractual staff case at NDRI, Karnal came to the force on 1st October 2020.
The contract had to be canceled. One year before this most disgraceful
event, dozens of milking cattle died having book value worth crores of rupees.
THESE ISSUES WERE PUBLISHED IN PRINT & ELECTRONIC MEDIA ALSO (predictably, they
were buried under the carpet and the audit officer concerned was put to the maximum
degree of harassment for doing his duty without fear or favor).
It
begs a million-dollar question, why no
accountability/responsibility was ever fixed? Only cosmetic exercise was
done and a law-abiding audit officer was made a scapegoat. No scrupulous and
regular internal audit is also ever done to check such serious cases of
malpractices, including cases of chemicals, and reagents as part of internal audit.
Clearly, the office has been most proficient in its operation cover-up.
v).
Embezzlement of Govt.
funds by Dr. Gynendra Pratap Singh, Acting Director (Ex-Director) ICAR-Indian
Institute of Wheat & Barley Research (IIWBR), Karnal (Haryana) knowingly by
misusing his govt. post in the construction of an irrigation channel at Seed and
Research Farm, Hisar. Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra instead of taking action against
Dr. G.P. Singh, by taking huge money/bribe granted a six-month extension to Dr.
G.P. Singh against all norms in advance vide ICAR order F. No.
85(1)2015-Per.III dated July 8, 2022, at the post of Director, IIWBR, Karnal,
whereas, his tenure is supposed to be over on August 3, 2022. This is against
the rules/directions of CVC (CVC’s Office Order No. 57/8/04 dated
31-08-2004). As per rules and regulations, Dr. G.P. Singh should not be given reappointment/extension as the inquiry against
him vide ICAR office order No. 4-2/2022-Vig.II dated 21-01-2022 was still going
on the complaint dated 22-11-2021, the outcome of the same is still awaited.
vi).
ICAR-National Institute
of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, the present Director, Dr. Raghavendra
Bhatta is running the institute continuously for almost the last 8 (5-year tenure
and 3-year extension by Dr. Mohapatra, certainly through paying some cost in
the form of bribe, hiding the crime/truth, etc. Dr. Raghavendra Bhatta is running
the institute in an autocratic manner with the assistance of junior scientists
ignoring the seniority of more than 17 Principal Scientists and 3 divisional
in-charges at ICAR-NIANP, Bangalore. He has misused his govt. post knowingly
and fulfilled his unethical personal interests.
vii).
Similar is the case of
ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122violating the seniority
of two dozen heads of Divisions and Principal scientists.
viii).
Dr. Raghavendra Bhatta,
openly claims that he will manage the Director post, again and again, using his
political hold and economic influence.
ix).
Mr. Bimabadhar Pradhan,
IAS the then AS&FA was pressurized by DG in clear payment approx. of Rs.
Sixteen lakhs to a private advocate in the Delhi High Court matter.
XII. The CAG Report speaks
volumes about the corruption under the umbrella of Dr. Mohapatra.
I requested time and again
1.
All related documents
be taken into personal custody as the racketeer officials involved in this scam
can put the office under fire anytime, to save themselves.
2.
The elements of “just, fair and equitable”
considerations; objectives of National Litigation Policy; pointedly specific
PMO directives, CIC decisions, DARPG guidelines on time-bound fixing of
accountability, parliamentary standing committees imperatives, RTI Act, 2005
including, et al have consistently
been violated by the highest officer of the ICAR. Thanks to the well-oiled
syndicate in ICAR, the opaque and revengeful office functioning is the order of
the day as already mentioned graphically.
3.
Complaints made against
serious habitual defaulters with requisite corroborative evidence are “settled”
for extraneous monetary considerations and quick promotions and postings of
their choice are done.
4.
All documents regarding the above-proved allegations are in office record, if the record is not furnished
by the concerned authorities of ICAR then the undersigned will try to provide some
of them.
5.
To
eradicate
corruption Hon’ble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No. 1193 of 2012, Dr.
Subramanian Swamy v/s Manmohan Singh and others clearly stated that -
GANGULY, J. Para
11.
- - It cannot
be disputed that where corruption begins all rights end. Corruption devalues
human rights, chokes development, and undermines justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity which are the core values in our preambular vision.
6. About the investigation of complaints, the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Azija
Begum Vs State of Maharashtra (2002) 3 SCC-126 Para 12 held that:
Every Citizen of this country has a
right to get his or her complaint properly investigated. The Legal Framework of
investigation provided under our laws cannot be made selectively available only
to some people and denied to others. This is the question of equal protection
of laws and is covered by the guarantee Article-14 of the Constitution.
7.
Madras High Court
Justice S.M. Subramaniam - Corrupt public servants must be declared
anti-nationals.
8.
Kindly act in the
interest of the Country at large.
9.
I shall be informed of
the detailed status of this time-bound investigation.
