An economics study that was stolen and had its authorship slots sold by a paper mill has been retracted. The move follows Retraction Watch reporting in January, 2026 about a researcher in India who took to social media after an academic journal rejected her paper, noting that it had high similarity to a study published by other authors – despite the work being her own.

Vijayalakshmi S, an economics researcher at RV University in Bengaluru, had presented the study at a conference, and had a previous version rejected from a different journal. S concluded her paper was somehow stolen during either of those instances. Another researcher told us at the time that a post he found on Telegram offered authorship slots on S’s study for less than $200 apiece.

After a “thorough investigation,” the Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development (JIPD) has now withdrawn the paper, journal's representatives said, and notified all the authors involved, who are based in Oman, India, and Saudi Arabia.

Source https://retractionwatch.com/2026/03/09/stolen-economics-study-retracted-following-retraction-watch-coverage/

Another high-profile case has interested scientists. Read now