Avinash Azad
In what has sent shockwaves across Jammu, the Bakshi Nagar Police has finally registered an FIR against former Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Chander Mohan Gupta and nine others in the sensational Hare Krishna Gaushala Scam, involving the theft of 13 cows and 24 calves (total 37 bovines) and the alleged misappropriation of nearly ₹97 lakh. The FIR came only after the directions of a local court, which pulled up the police for its inaction.
The accused named in the FIR include Narender Verma alias Nitai Dass, his wife Manju Verma, Vijay Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Deepak Singh Rana (RSS affiliated), Varinder Dogra, Deepak Singla, Rajeev Sambyal, and Rajinder Abrol, all of whom have been accused of orchestrating large-scale theft and embezzlement under the garb of religious charity.
Shockingly, despite repeated complaints and official reports confirming the disappearance of bovines and financial fraud, the Tehsildar Jammu Khas sat silently, failing to act against the accused. Worse still, serious allegations have surfaced that the Tehsildar has been shielding his revenue staff in land scams across Bain Bajalta and other parts of Jammu, while the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is allegedly being misled.
BJP’s “Cow Protection” Politics Exposed
The BJP, which came to power with “cow protection” as one of its emotional planks, now finds itself in an embarrassing position as one of its senior leaders and prominent RSS figures have been named in a Gaushala scam — where cows themselves have gone missing. “The same leaders who sought votes in the name of ‘Gau Raksha’ are today accused of stealing cows and siphoning off funds,” remarked a furious whistleblower.
Whistleblower’s Long Fight for Justice
The complaint was filed by Rohit Bali, General Secretary of Hare Krishna Gaushala Charitable Trust, established in 2017. Bali alleged that before the government took over the Gaushala’s management, he had personally purchased 25 cows and 24 calves, but soon after, reports of missing bovines and financial irregularities began to emerge.
When Bali approached the Tehsildar, Jammu Khas in March 2024, an inquiry by the Naib Tehsildar confirmed financial embezzlement and interference by the Ex-Mayor and others. Later, a probe by the Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Jammu revealed that 13 cows and 24 calves were missing from the Gaushala.
Armed with these reports, Bali moved the SHO Bakshi Nagar for FIR registration, but police refused. Even the SSP Jammu remained unmoved. Forced into a corner, Bali approached the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jammu, under Section 175 (3) BNSS, 2023, seeking judicial intervention.
Court Cracks the Whip
On 1 February 2025, Judicial Magistrate 1st Class (Munsiff), Jammu, Rekha Sharma, noted that prima facie cognizable offences had been committed and directed Bakshi Nagar Police to register an FIR. However, the police defied the order, prompting Bali to file a contempt petition against SHO Azad Manhas.
On 26 September 2025, the court took serious note and warned that the SHO would face contempt proceedings unless he complied. Cornered, the SHO on 29 September 2025 informed the court that FIR No. 0125/2025 had finally been registered under Sections 316, 318(3), and 325 BNS, 2023.
Silence of the Administration
The bigger question remains — why did the administration sit over hard evidence for over a year? Despite categorical reports from Revenue and Animal Husbandry Departments, no action was taken against politically connected accused. The Tehsildar Jammu Khas’s silence is now being seen as complicity. Sources allege that the Tehsildar has also been protecting a revenue mafia in land scams, ensuring the ACB does not act decisively.
Public Outrage The revelations have triggered public outrage, with locals questioning how a Gaushala meant for cow protection could be turned into a den of loot under the nose of authorities. “When the custodians themselves become looters, who will protect the sacred cow?” asked a furious local resident. This case now threatens to erode BJP’s credibility in Jammu, a region where cow protection was once a rallying cry for the party. With cows and calves themselves missing and nearly ₹97 lakh embezzled, the scam is being seen as a betrayal of faith — both religious and political.
