NEW DELHI: In a twin blow, the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies ( CSDS ), asking it to disclose the source of funding for its studies on the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and the Maharashtra Assembly polls . The council accused the institute of “deliberately… indulging in data manipulation with a deliberate and malicious action to create a narrative with intention of undermining the sanctity of the constitutional authority such as the Election Commission of India .”
The action coincided with FIRs filed by Nagpur and Nashik police against Sanjay Kumar, psephologist and CSDS faculty member. Nagpur Rural Police booked him for allegedly spreading false claims of steep voter declines — 38.45% in Ramtek and 36.82% in Deolali — through now-deleted posts. SP (Rural) Harssh A Poddar said the case followed a complaint by the tehsildar, prompted by a letter from the district returning officer. Kumar has been charged under Sections 175, 353(1)(b) and 212 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and is expected to be summoned soon.
In its notice, ICSSR also pressed CSDS for explanations on a string of alleged irregularities. “CSDS, Delhi has continuously been involved in various irregularities in the past and such irregularities were also reported to ICSSR in the form of multiple complaints through various channels,” it said. The violations cited include “appointment of faculty in violation of mandatory UGC regulations,” “non-holding of election of the chairman of the governing body,” “opaque method followed for appointment of director,” and “non-submission of the details of FCRA funds and its utilisation.”
The council further noted that annual accounts were not audited by CAG/AG and flagged “payment of House Rent Allowances (HRA) to employees who were staying in the government accommodation allocated to their spouses.” It said such administrative and financial lapses, combined with the controversial studies, amounted to a “gross violation of ICSSR Grant-in-Aid Rules for Societies and Institutions doing Research in the Field of Social Sciences.”
CSDS has been given seven days to respond, failing which ICSSR warned it would be “free to take appropriate action… including cancellation and withdrawal” of its grant-in-aid.
Sanjay Kumar didn’t respond to messages and calls for his comments on the matter.
With the police probe targeting a senior faculty member and ICSSR threatening to cut off funding, the dispute has now escalated into a high-stakes battle over credibility, accountability, and the integrity of India’s electoral processes.
The action coincided with FIRs filed by Nagpur and Nashik police against Sanjay Kumar, psephologist and CSDS faculty member. Nagpur Rural Police booked him for allegedly spreading false claims of steep voter declines — 38.45% in Ramtek and 36.82% in Deolali — through now-deleted posts. SP (Rural) Harssh A Poddar said the case followed a complaint by the tehsildar, prompted by a letter from the district returning officer. Kumar has been charged under Sections 175, 353(1)(b) and 212 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and is expected to be summoned soon.
In its notice, ICSSR also pressed CSDS for explanations on a string of alleged irregularities. “CSDS, Delhi has continuously been involved in various irregularities in the past and such irregularities were also reported to ICSSR in the form of multiple complaints through various channels,” it said. The violations cited include “appointment of faculty in violation of mandatory UGC regulations,” “non-holding of election of the chairman of the governing body,” “opaque method followed for appointment of director,” and “non-submission of the details of FCRA funds and its utilisation.”
The council further noted that annual accounts were not audited by CAG/AG and flagged “payment of House Rent Allowances (HRA) to employees who were staying in the government accommodation allocated to their spouses.” It said such administrative and financial lapses, combined with the controversial studies, amounted to a “gross violation of ICSSR Grant-in-Aid Rules for Societies and Institutions doing Research in the Field of Social Sciences.”
CSDS has been given seven days to respond, failing which ICSSR warned it would be “free to take appropriate action… including cancellation and withdrawal” of its grant-in-aid.
Sanjay Kumar didn’t respond to messages and calls for his comments on the matter.
With the police probe targeting a senior faculty member and ICSSR threatening to cut off funding, the dispute has now escalated into a high-stakes battle over credibility, accountability, and the integrity of India’s electoral processes.
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