New Delhi: A research project initiated by the Madhya Pradesh government in 2011 to develop a cure for serious illnesses, including cancer, through cow by-products has run into a controversy for alleged financial irregularities and corruption. The project was launched at Nanaji Deshmuk Veterinary Science University in Jabalpur that intended to study whether Panchagavya – a traditional preparation combining cow dung, cow urine, and other dairy products – could be a potential treatment for serious illnesses. Nearly a decade later, the divisional commissioner (DC) ordered an inquiry after his office received a complaint of misappropriation of funds in the project, the Indian Express reported. The university officials had proposed a funding of around Rs 8 crore, but the state government sanctioned Rs 3.5 crore for the project. The DC has also constituted a probe team headed by an additional collector to examine spending patterns and outcomes of this over a decade-long project. The team’s report, that has now been submitted to the collector, has now pointed out that there was financial mismanagement in the project with negligible scientific productivity. “According to sources familiar with the report, investigators identified expenditures that appeared substantially inflated compared to market rates and included items seemingly unrelated to the approved research objectives,” the Indian Express reported. The probe found that between 2011 and 2018, around Rs 1.92 crore were spent on sourcing basic materials like cow dung, cow urine, and storage vessels, and raw materials – all of which should have cost only Rs 15.20 lakh at prevailing market rates. The university officials also undertook 23 to 24 air trips to different cities ostensibly for research purposes but the probe questioned the necessity for such travel. “Additional questionable expenditures cited in the report include the purchase of a vehicle valued at approximately Rs 7.5 lakh, which investigators say was not included in the original sanctioned estimate. The project also recorded spending of over Rs 7.5 lakh on fuel and vehicle maintenance, roughly Rs 3.5 lakh on labour payments, and around Rs 15 lakh on furniture and electronic equipment, all of which the investigation characterised as non-essential for the stated research goals,” the daily said. Additional Collector Raghuvar Maravi later said that documents provided by the university authorities during the investigation revealed that multiple purchases were not included in the approved estimate of Rs 3.5 crore, especially vehicles and extensive travel expenses. Moreover, Maravi said, “Some training was also to be given to the farmers, but it was not mentioned what training was given. Research was to be done in Panchagavya for the treatment of serious diseases like cancer.“Our investigation found the vehicles which were allegedly purchased were missing; there was also no mention of the trips taken in their estimate,” he said.However, university officials flatly refused the possibility of any scam in the project. Registrar Dr S .S. Tomar said that the project was conducted since 2012 with complete transparency and adherence to rules. “All purchases, whether machines or vehicles, were made through open tenders. Government rules have been followed; there has been no scam,” Dr Tomar said. He said that the university underwent proper auditing and provided all required certificates to the authorities. “An investigation committee came, and we provided all the documents; no facts were hidden,” he said.“This project was worth Rs 3.5 crore. We are still providing training to the youth and farmers,” he said, adding that the initiative served intended beneficiaries. The probe report will now be forwarded by the collector to the Divisional Commissioner, who will review the findings and initiate further action.