MP's 'gau mutra, gobar cancer project' funds splurged on cars, travel: Probe

JABALPUR: 'Gobar' (cow dung) and 'gau mutra' (cow urine) were meant to power a cancer research funded by MP govt, but instead fuelled a multi-crore scam at Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University in Jabalpur.

Instead of combating cancer with cow products, including milk, under the Panchgavya research project, the funds were allegedly splurged on cars, air travel and overpriced machines, an investigation has found.

The probe was ordered by Jabalpur district collector Raghvendra Singh, who constituted a two-member committee led by additional collector R S Marawi, following complaints of misuse of the research funds.

"During preliminary scrutiny of documents, it was found that the research money was spent on purposes not related to the project," Marawi told TOI.

Around Rs 3 lakh was spent on air travel, though there was no evidence of research-related tours, Marawi said. "A car was purchased from the research fund, and nearly Rs 15 lakh was spent on vehicle repairs, petrol and diesel."

The committee also found that nearly Rs 1.75 crore was spent on raw materials and machines, which were procured at rates many times higher than the prevailing market prices.

"About Rs 15 lakh was spent on furniture and electronic items, and nearly Rs 5 lakh was paid under other heads, all from the research fund," Marawi said.

He added that the inquiry report had been submitted to the collector, and further action would be decided at the administrative level.

The Panchgavya scheme was launched in 2011 after the state govt sanctioned Rs 3.5 crore for research on fighting serious diseases like cancer using gobar, gau mutra and milk.

The university's vice-chancellor, Mandeep Sharma, said the research programme ended in 2018, and claimed that technical and financial records were approved at the time. "We are gathering details of the project and will officially share information with the media after reviewing the records."

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