Overview

• Dr. Subbanna Ayyappan, a renowned aquaculture scientist and former ICAR Director General, was found dead in the Cauvery River on May 10, three days after being reported missing.
• Karnataka Police have registered an unnatural death case and are awaiting post-mortem and forensic results to determine the exact cause of death, with initial findings pointing to possible suicide or accident.
• Ayyappan’s scooter and footwear were discovered abandoned near the Sai Baba Ashram, where he was known to meditate regularly along the riverbank.
• Venugopal Badaravada, a former ICAR governing body member, has called for a CBI investigation, alleging institutional vendetta and corruption within ICAR as possible factors in Ayyappan’s death.
• Dr. Ayyappan, credited with spearheading India’s Blue Revolution, was the first non-crop scientist to lead ICAR and was honored with the Padma Shri in 2022 for his contributions to agriculture and aquaculture.