A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit has uncovered alleged irregularities of Rs 57.36 crore in Rajasthan’s cow protection scheme, with gaushalas claiming subsidies for cattle that were dead or not housed in their shelters.
The report found that 38 gaushalas across the state inflated cattle numbers by around 1.31 lakh in their applications, leading to excess grant disbursals. Discrepancies between daily records and data on the Bharat Pashudhan App went unchecked, allowing funds to be released without proper verification.
Gaushalas named in the Rajasthan cow scheme fraud
The audit highlighted several prominent shelters, including:
- Shri Braj Kamad Surabhi Van Research Institute Gaushala (Deeg): Rs 16.36 crore excess
- Shri Gopal Govardhan Gaushala (Jalore): Rs 10.95 crore excess
- Pinjrapole Gaushala (Jaipur): Rs 1.81 crore excess
- Hingonia Gaushala (Jaipur): Rs 1.41 crore excess
Three gaushalas in Bharatpur and six in Sikar were also flagged for similar discrepancies.
Recovery notices issued, funds remain unpaid
The Gopalan Department ordered the recovery of Rs 57.36 crore from the 38 gaushalas on May 29, 2026, warning of suspended approvals for non-compliance. However, a significant portion remains unpaid.
Gaushala operators have denied fraud, attributing the discrepancies to documentation errors. They stated the matter is under review by an inquiry committee.
