ICMR-NIN Scientists Accused Of Faking Pesticide Research Using ₹41 Lakh Public Funds

The Centre for Environment and Agriculture (CENTEGRO) has levelled serious allegations against senior scientist Dr S.N. Sinha of the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad, and Dileshwar Kumar, a junior scientist and CSIR fellow pursuing his PhD at Osmania University. The duo had received funds to conduct a field study titled “Neurobehavioral and biogenic amines manifestations of the agricultural population exposed to organophosphate insecticides: a study in Telangana.”

The project aimed to assess how prolonged exposure to pesticides affects the nervous system and brain chemistry of farmers and agricultural workers. According to CENTEGRO, none of this ground-level work was actually done. Documents obtained through the RTI Act show that six research papers were published under the project, but the data was “entirely manufactured” and bore no signs of having come from actual field or lab investigations.

“This is not just academic dishonesty. It is scientific fraud using taxpayer money, and it undermines faith in our public research institutions,” said Ganesan S., advisor at CENTEGRO.

One of the six papers has since been withdrawn without public explanation. The rest remain in circulation. “We have analysed every paper. Not one of them meets even basic scientific standards. They contradict known toxicology and neurochemistry principles and appear to be cooked up to justify funding,” said CENTEGRO researcher Adarsh Soni.

The NGO sent detailed complaints to the Union ministry of health on April 10 and April 23, urging a criminal investigation under Section 111(1)(iii) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which includes provisions for forgery and criminal breach of trust. It also wrote to the Governor of Telangana, who is Chancellor of Osmania University, asking that Kumar’s PhD be withheld pending inquiry.

CENTEGRO’s report also lists how the project received overlapping support from both ICMR and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), raising concerns of dual funding. “Not only was the data fake, but public money from multiple agencies was used to legitimise it,” Ganesan said.

When Deccan Chronicle reached out to NIN with specific queries about the allegations, the institute acknowledged receipt of questions and assured a response. However, even four days later, no reply has been provided.

CENTEGRO says this case cannot be treated lightly. “In 2016, CSIR dismissed two scientists from Chandigarh for similar misconduct. We expect equal accountability in this case,” said Ganesan.

CENTEGRO’s full report, “A major research fraud involving pesticide residue analysis at ICMR-NIN, Hyderabad,” is publicly available and contains what it claims is detailed, verifiable evidence warranting immediate disciplinary and legal action.