A major investigation by the Accountant General in India has uncovered an INR 57 crore fraud in the state of Rajasthan under the Govansh Sanrakshan Yojana (Cow Conservation Scheme), where government subsidies were misappropriated by various cow shelters.
The audit report reveals that 38 gaushalas (cow shelters) collectively inflated cattle count by approximately 1.31 lack animals to claim excess funds, frequently listing cattle that were dead, missing, or never present in records.
The investigation, covering the period between 2021 and 2025, highlights systemic failures in the verification process. Despite significant discrepancies between daily cattle records and the data entered in the Bharat Pashudhan (India’s Livestock) app, authorities continued to release grants without adequate checks.
Prominent cases identified in the report include the Shri Braj Kamad Surabhi Van Research Institute Gaushala in Deeg district, which allegedly claimed INR 16.36 crore in excess funds, and the Shri Gopal Govardhan Gaushala in Jalore district, which allegedly received INR 10.95 crore.
Earlier in the year, allegations of embezzlement at the Ram temple, Ayodhya made to the headlines as claims emerged that over INR 70 million had gone missing from the shrine’s offerings. While the Trust, responsible for managing offerings of the temple, has denied the allegations of improper handling, the political controversy has intensified.
The Gopalan Department (Department of Cow Protection and Welfare) ordered the recovery of INR 57.36 crore from the gaushalas in the previous month. Notices warned that failure to deposit the excess amount could lead to the suspension of future financial approvals. However, a substantial portion of the funds remains unrecovered.
