ACB Probes Fraudulent Cow Shelter Grants in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) is set to investigate fraudulently obtained grants by cow shelters in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan. During surprise inspections and investigations, irregularities were found in 32 shelters, leading to halted grants and suspensions of involved officials. ACB aims to recover the misappropriated funds.

The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) is set to investigate cow shelters in Jaisalmer district that received grants fraudulently, announced Gaupalan Minister Joraram Kumawat in the Rajasthan Assembly on Thursday.

Stringent actions will be enforced against the perpetrators, and the grants wrongfully obtained will be reclaimed from these shelters. The minister disclosed this while addressing supplementary questions during the Assembly's Question Hour.

A confidential probe and an unannounced inspection conducted by the Directorate of Gaupalan on February 7 and 8, 2024, revealed gaps between reported and actual cow populations in 12 shelters, which led to grant suspensions.

Additionally, the district collector's investigation unveiled irregularities in 16 more shelters, while the Animal Husbandry Department's joint director found issues in another four. As a result, grants for all these shelters were halted, he stated.

Minister Kumawat also announced the suspension of the then-joint director of the Animal Husbandry Department in Jaisalmer for oversight negligence. Actions were likewise taken against four doctors and two sub-divisional officers in Bhatiana Pokaran.

Earlier, in a written reply to MLA Kalicharan Saraf, Kumawat noted that these irregularities were detected during the financial year 2023-24's inspections, leading to the suspension of grants for 32 shelters.

The ACB is set to further investigate the misappropriated grants.

(With inputs from agencies.)