Case Raises Serious Ethical Concerns Over Peer Review Integrity
In a shocking case of manuscript misappropriation, a chemist from Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Pakistan, discovered that his unpublished review article had been published by another group of researchers without his knowledge. The case highlights serious ethical concerns regarding peer review integrity and manuscript handling in scholarly publishing.
A Startling Discovery
Dr. Muhammad Kashif, a chemist specializing in nanomaterials, was alerted by ResearchGate about a newly published paper on bismuth-based nanoparticles—a topic closely related to his own research. Upon examining the paper, he realized that it bore substantial similarities to his own unpublished work.
“I was shocked and deeply concerned,” Kashif told Retraction Watch. “My unpublished work was replicated without attribution, undermining months of effort.”
The paper in question, “Bismuth-based nanoparticles and nanocomposites: synthesis and applications,” was published in RSC Advances in December 2024. Kashif had originally submitted his manuscript to the Archives of Advanced Engineering Science (AAES) in March 2024 but later withdrew it after the first review round. He then submitted it to Elsevier’s Materials Today Communications, which ultimately rejected it.
However, months later, his work reappeared in RSC Advances—under the authorship of Sujit Kumar, an assistant professor at Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bengaluru, India.
How Did This Happen?
According to the journal’s managing editor, Fay Ge, Kumar had previously reviewed Kashif’s manuscript for AAES. This suggests that Kumar had access to the original manuscript before submitting a near-identical version under his own name.
Kumar later admitted to mistakenly submitting Kashif’s manuscript instead of his own, claiming that the file names were similar.
“It happened because of my negligence,” Kumar said. “I assure you that this type of mistake will not happen on my end in the future.”
Retraction Underway, But Delayed
Following Kashif’s complaint, RSC Advances initiated an ethics investigation. Editor-in-chief Russell Cox confirmed that the journal follows COPE guidelines in handling such cases but declined to share further details, stating that the investigation was still “active.”
Kashif, however, expressed frustration with the journal’s slow response.
“I had hoped to publish my manuscript in RSC Advances after the copied version was retracted,” he said. “But given their lack of urgency, I am now pursuing publication in a different journal that prioritizes ethical standards and timely resolutions.”
Larger Concerns: Peer Review Exploitation
This case has sparked broader discussions about confidentiality violations in the peer review process. Kashif highlighted the risk of reviewers exploiting access to unpublished work for personal gain.
“Beyond personal frustration, this raises serious ethical questions about peer review integrity and the exploitation of confidential submissions,” Kashif said. “As a young researcher, this experience has been disheartening, and it shattered my trust in the system.”
Implications for Academic Publishing
This incident underscores the importance of stronger safeguards in the peer review process to prevent misconduct. While journals rely on trust and professionalism among reviewers, this case demonstrates the need for more stringent oversight, accountability, and swift action against ethical breaches.
With the RSC Advances investigation still pending, the scholarly community will be watching closely to see how this case is resolved—and what measures will be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future.