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New Delhi: 'Gau mutra' and cow dung were supposed to be utilised for a multi-crore cancer research which was backed by the Madhya Pradesh government. Instead they fueled a multi-crore scam at the Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University in Jabalpur. The funds were to be utilised for cancer research under the Panchgavya research project, but instead they were used on buying high-end cars, air travel and overpriced machines, an investigation revealed.
According to a report in the Times of India, after several complaints regarding the misuse of the funds was received, the Jabalpur District Collector, ordered an enquiry. He constituted a 2-member committee, led by additional collector R S Marawi for the task.
Marawai said that the committee found that the research funds were not spent on purposes related to the project, but on buying other luxurious items, including cars. Around Rs 3 lakh was also spent on air travel, which did not involve any research-related tours.
The committee found that nearly Rs 15 lakh was spent on repairs petrol and diesel, while Rs 1.75 crore was spent on raw materials and machines. These were procured at a much higher price, than the actual rate in the market, found the investigating team.
Money from the research fund was also spent on electronic items and other heads. So basically the money was spent on everything else, other than funding research to treat cancer.
The Panchgavya scheme was launched in 2011 and the government had sanctioned Rs 3.5 crore for research on fighting the disease, using gobar, gau mutra and cow milk.
