Bengaluru, May 12 -- Former director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Padma Shri awardee Subbanna Ayyappan has been found dead in the Cauvery river in Srirangapatna, police said on Sunday.

"Ayyappan was reported missing on May 7 by his family at the Vidyaranyapuram police station in Mysuru. The 70-year-old scientist reportedly left home on his scooter without carrying his mobile phone but did not return. During investigation, his scooter was located parked nearby at the Sai Ashram," B Prakash, inspector at the Srirangapatna police station, said.

"The exact reason of death is yet to be determined. Initial investigation suggests he may have entered the water three days earlier, possibly near the Sai Baba A...