The Shocking Theft at RV University: A Researcher's Nightmare Unfolds
In the bustling academic hub of Bengaluru, Dr. Vijayalakshmi S, an economics researcher at RV University, faced a nightmare that has sent shockwaves through India's higher education landscape. Her original study, meticulously crafted and submitted to Springer's Discover Energy journal in January 2024, was rejected after peer review with suggestions for revisions. Undeterred, she presented it at IIT Bombay's Young Scholar Initiative Conference. But unbeknownst to her, the manuscript was stolen, repurposed, and published in the Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development (JIPD) just months later.
The theft came to light when Dr. S resubmitted her work to another journal, only to receive a rejection citing excessive similarity to the already-published JIPD paper from September 2024. A line-by-line comparison revealed identical data points, literature reviews, references, and citations—clear evidence of verbatim copying. This incident highlights the vulnerability of Indian researchers, particularly in private universities like RV University, where resources for safeguarding intellectual property may be limited.
Dr. S shared her ordeal on LinkedIn, tagging the fraudulent authors and sparking a chain of revelations. What began as personal anguish quickly exposed a deeper systemic issue plaguing Indian academia: paper mills—organized operations that steal, fabricate, or recycle research to sell authorship slots, undermining the integrity of scholarly work.
Timeline of the Scandal: From Submission to Telegram Sale
The sequence of events paints a chilling picture of efficiency in academic fraud. January 2024: Dr. S submits to Discover Energy. April 2024: Thieves submit the stolen manuscript to JIPD, published by EnPress Publisher. September 2024: The paper appears online with authors affiliated to institutions in Oman, India, and Saudi Arabia—a classic red flag for paper mill involvement due to improbable international collaborations.
- December 29, 2024: A Telegram channel advertises authorship slots on the exact paper, matching keywords from Dr. S's study.
- January 2025: Scopus de-indexes JIPD amid a surge in suspicious submissions.
- Early 2026: Dr. S discovers the theft via journal rejection and goes public on LinkedIn.
This rapid turnaround—from theft to publication in under nine months—underscores how paper mills exploit open submission systems in journals hungry for content. For faculty at Indian colleges like RV University, such breaches erode trust and complicate career progression tied to publication records.
Read the full Retraction Watch investigation for screenshots of the Telegram ad and Dr. S's emails.
Inside Telegram's Dark Market: Authorship Slots for Sale
Telegram channels like paperpublicationopportunity serve as hubs for paper mills targeting desperate academics. In Dr. S's case, slots were priced at 15,000 INR (~$165) for first or second author and 5,000 INR (~$55) for others—affordable temptations for PhD students and junior faculty under publication pressure.
These mills offer end-to-end services: stealing ideas, drafting manuscripts, securing publications, and even boosting citations. In India, they thrive due to the 'publish or perish' culture driven by UGC regulations, NAAC accreditation (12-25% research weightage), and NIRF rankings (15-60% research parameter). Private universities like RV University, aiming for NIRF climbs, inadvertently fuel demand.
Ashutosh Tiwari, who uncovered the ad, shared his own brush with mills: He once paid 10,000 INR for 'help' on a paper later retracted. Such confessions reveal how even well-intentioned researchers fall prey.
The Fraudulent Authors and Journal's Dubious Standards
The JIPD paper lists Mohammed Ahmar Uddin from Dhofar University, Oman, as first author. Uddin denied knowledge of co-authors, claimed public data use, and insisted on plagiarism checks. Yet, the paper's content mirrors Dr. S's verbatim. JIPD, now de-indexed by Scopus, exemplifies low-barrier journals overwhelmed by mill submissions.
EnPress Publisher's associate editor, Jun Xie, ignored queries. Springer Nature is investigating via integrity manager Tim Kersjes. This case mirrors broader trends where mills bribe editors or flood systems.
For Indian higher education, such scandals tarnish global reputations, affecting faculty hiring and funding. Legitimate researchers seeking research positions face skepticism.
Victim Accused: The Cruel Irony of Plagiarism Charges
In a twist, Dr. S was accused of plagiarism by the journal reviewing her resubmission—ironic, as her work predated the theft. She received an anonymous email offering 'exchange' papers, which she publicized. 'I was shocked to my core,' she said. 'This is my paper, written without anybody’s help.'
RV University has not publicly responded, but cases like this pressure institutions to bolster IP protections. PhD aspirants should prioritize ethical paths, using resources like academic CV guides.
Paper Mills' Grip on Indian Universities: Stats and Trends
India faced nearly 900 retractions in 2025, second globally after China, with 6/10 top-retraction universities Indian. A 2025 Retraction Watch analysis showed Indian papers at 15% of global retractions.
| University | Retractions 2025 |
|---|---|
| Saveetha Institute | High rise from 1 to 154 (2022-23) |
| Multiple IITs/AIIMS | Flagged high-risk |
| 32 Indian unis | RI² high-risk list |
UGC's 2022 removal of mandatory PhD publications aimed to curb mills, but promotion criteria persist.
JNU and Beyond: Similar Scandals in Indian Academia
Prof. Rajeev Kumar's 2025 Delhi HC petition against a JNU PhD student exposed mills selling slots for ₹5,500-₹6,500. The student published Kumar's work with mill-bought authors from Iraq, Saudi Arabia. NIRF/NAAC pressures exacerbate this, with unemployed PhDs staffing mills.
The Hindu coverage details the scam's scope.
Stakeholder Perspectives: Victims, Mills, and Regulators
Dr. S: 'Every single data point... is mine.' Uddin: 'Capable enough, no dubious means.' Tiwari: Personal regret over mill use. UGC pushes ORCID, plagiarism checks >10%.
- Publishers: AI tools to detect mills.
- Universities: Stricter ethics training.
- Researchers: Watermark drafts, avoid preprints.
Protecting Your Research: Practical Steps for Indian Academics
To safeguard against theft:
- Use plagiarism detectors like Turnitin before submission.
- Timestamp drafts via blockchain tools or registered post.
- Report suspicions to UGC's integrity cell.
- Collaborate ethically via platforms like research assistant jobs.
- Focus on quality over quantity for promotions.
Faculty at colleges can seek professor jobs emphasizing integrity.
Photo by Arpit Batra on Unsplash
Future Outlook: Reforming India's Research Ecosystem
With 5,349 universities, India leads globally, but mills threaten credibility. Solutions: UGC penalties for retractions, AI-human peer review, global blacklists. Positive note: Springer investigations signal change.
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