FIR registered against former Jammu BJP mayor in cow theft and ₹97 lakh misappropriation case

October 1, 2025 by News Desk

Police Station Bakshi Nagar has registered an FIR against former Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Mayor Chander Mohan Gupta, along with nine others, in connection with alleged theft of 13 cows and 24 calves and the misappropriation of nearly ₹97 lakh belonging to the Hare Krishna Gaushala located near Eden Garden, Shakti Nagar.

The FIR (No. 0125/2025) was filed under sections 316, 318 (3), and 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (2023). It was registered on the directions of Judicial Magistrate First Class (Munsiff) Jammu, Rekha Sharma, following a complaint lodged by Rohit Bali, General Secretary of the Hare Krishna Gaushala Charitable Trust.

The accused named in the case include Narender Verma alias Nitai Dass, Manju Verma, Vijay Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Deepak Singh Rana, Varinder Dogra, Deepak Singla, Rajeev Sambyal, and Rajinder Abrol.

According to the complaint, Bali had purchased 25 cows and 24 calves for the Gaushala before its management was taken over by the administration.

However, he later came across reports of missing cattle and irregular financial activities allegedly involving the former Mayor and others.

Subsequent inquiries conducted by the Tehsildar of Jammu Khas, the Naib-Tehsildar, and the Chief Animal Husbandry Officer confirmed the disappearance of 37 bovines and financial embezzlement.

Initially, police did not register the FIR, prompting the complainant to approach the court. On September 29, 2025, the Station House Officer of Bakshi Nagar informed the court that the FIR had been registered, with the investigation assigned to ASI Ashok Kumar. The probe is currently underway.

Chander Mohan Gupta, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), served as Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation after his election in November 2018.

He resigned from the post in September 2022, along with Deputy Mayor Purnima Sharma.

The registration of the FIR marks a serious legal challenge for Gupta, who is a prominent face of the BJP in Jammu’s civic politics.