Kerala research scholar ordered to apologise, pay fine for plagiarism

Kalamassery: The syndicate meeting of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) has decided to slap a fine of Rs 10,000 and issue a stern warning to part-time research scholar V Shibu of the Cochin University College of Engineering Kuttanad (CUCEK) for plagiarising the research paper of an Italian professor.

Shibu also has to tender an unconditional apology to the original author of the paper, Professor Stefano Sanerov from Milan in Italy.

If Shibu does not pay the fine and tender the apology, the CUSAT would cancel his PhD registration. The syndicate meeting, chaired by vice-chancellor Dr K N Madhusoodanan, also decided to set up an academic integrity panel at CUSAT, as per the UGC instructions, to detect and prevent such instances of plagiarism in the future.

The professor would be informed of the steps taken by the university over the complaint.

The professor had lodged a complaint with the university on August 16, 2022, alleging plagiarism by the CUSAT research scholar. The university, which took a serious note of the complaint, tasked the dean's committee to probe and submit the report. The committee found that the research paper in Shibu’s name was a 'line by line' copy of the professor's research work.

The recommendations made by the syndicate's standing committee, based on the committee’s findings, were accepted by the syndicate.