Padma Shri awardee scientist Dr Subbanna Ayyappan found dead in Karnataka's Mandya, suicide suspected
Dr Ayyappan, who lived with his wife in Visvesvaraya Nagar, Mysuru, had been reported missing since May 7. His family members filed a missing person complaint at the Vidyaranyapuram Police Station.
The police said they were alerted by a resident who spotted a body floating near the Cauvery River. When the police arrived at the spot, they identified the deceased as Dr Ayyappan, and also found his two-wheeler near the riverbank.
The police said the initial investigations suggest Dr Ayyappan, 69, may have died allegedly by suicide around three days ago, adding they are continuing their probe to confirm the cause of death. The body has been moved to K R Hospital in Mysuru for a postmortem examination.
Srinidhi, Dr Ayyappan's relative and a practising advocate, said he often visited the Ramakrishna and Sai Ashrams for meditation and spiritual reflection.
Born on December 10, 1955, in Chamarajanagar district's Yalandur, Dr Ayyappan had a distinguished academic journey, completing his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Fisheries Science from Mangaluru, followed by a PhD from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru.
He held several top positions nationally and was instrumental in promoting India's Blue Revolution, significantly boosting aquaculture development. In 2022, the government recognised his contributions by awarding him the Padma Shri.
At the time of his passing, he served as the chairperson of the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
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