Scientist shunted out for highlighting ICAR `scam’

The reason: Tomar meticulously pointed out numerous financial irregularities in the giant organisation, where more than research work, the administrative matters are kept a closely guarded secret. And more so because he alleged that his seniors are directly involved in them.

Under an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture, the World Bank released a loan of Rs 1,000 crore to the ICAR for its National Agriculture Technology Project (NATP) in 1998 for a five-year term. A part of the loan, meant for extensive research and extension work in the nation’s agriculture institutions and universities, was to be used for Agriculture Research Information System (ARIS). This involved purchases of computer networking equipment worth about Rs 20 crore. It is here, that being the main coordinating person of the entire project, he allegedly detected corruption by his seniors.

Tomar says he has provided documentary proof to the Agriculture Ministry and the Central Vigilance Commission that: * Purchases of computers and peripherals were deliberately delayed for over a year allegedly to benefit the bidder multinational firm which subsequently supplied Pentium II computers whose cost had almost fallen to half by that time due to introduction of Pentium III in the market.

* Penalty clauses in the contract with the supplier were deliberately changed.

* About half of the Rs 20 crore worth of computer networking equipment, purchased for the ARIS network, have not passed the acceptance test conducted by an agency of government-owned National Informatics Centre (NIC) and yet nobody has been held accountable.

* According to the contract, the firm was to provide training to staff at 2,500 ARIS centres, but this figure was changed to just 54 centres and the certification proforma was modified accordingly.

* The firm was allowed to collect computer equipment from countries other than those laid down in the contract. And the provision of air cargo in the bid was changed to transportation by ship to benefit the company.

Tomar, ADG (ARIS – Computer Information System) has accused senior officials in the ICAR including the Director General (DG) and the two deputy Director Generals (DDGs) of involvement in the alleged scam.

“The Council invited tenders for making these purchases during October-November 1998 and the supply of these installations were to be completed by February 99. Intentionally the supply and installation were delayed for more than 12 months so that the firm could be benefited,” said Tomar.

"The orders were placed for Pentium II computers and by the time the supply was made, Pentium III were already introduced in the market and the price of Pentium II fell considerably. But still Pentium II computers, which had become obsolete in the international market, were bought for their previous price and despite the delayed supply," he said.

"The DG and the DDG (engineering) intentionally changed the penalty proforma so that ICAR may not charge any penalty from the firm. The firm got a direct benefit of Rs 15 crore, which is a direct loss to the Government," said Tomar scurrying through the volumes of correspondence he has made in the regard with his bosses and their mostly incensed replies he got in exchange.

Awarded twice by the President for his research papers in 1991-92 and 1993-94 and recipient of Jawaharlal Nehru Award for best PhD thesis in engineering and technology, Tomar’s credentials are now being questioned by the angered seniors.

"This man has never delivered anything useful in his life. He will always lead the Council to the docks," said Anwar Alam, DDG (engineering). When asked about the alleged changes made by him and the DG in the bid conditions Alam said:“It is a question of interpretation. We have done everything as per the established procedure. About 20 per cent payment to the company is still pending. We can charge penalty on them for delayed supply."

"Tomar is a subordinate officer. He has been superseding his seniors and dashing off letters to everyone about corruption. He will be dealt in his own way. We are contemplating action against him," Alam said.

When Alam’s attention was drawn to the fact that Pentium II computers had become outdated in the market and that Council suffered a huge loss because f their purchase he replied: "It still meets our requirement. Whosoever says Pentium II are bad, they are wrong." "This Tomar has become a burden on the Council," he said after a brief pause.

On the other hand, the DG, R S Paroda, who is also Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, refuted the charges of corruption outright. "I do not deal with this directly. World Bank has its own set procedure. Like Tomar, anybody can approach the CVC with complaints," said Paroda.

Ironically, the only man who supported Tomar was director Finance B C Jangira, and he too has been booted out of office. Jangira has been relieved of his office at Krishi Bhavan and asked to move over to newly created post of director Finance at NATP. Interestingly, director Finance is the single post in the entire ICAR organisation. So all the records of vital transactions of ICAR are kept under the supervision of his office. "I have been time and again pointing out large irregularities in the financial accounts to the seniors. I refused to compromise on this aspect," Jangira said.