Staff Reporter
Guwahati: The Youth Congress today lodged FIRs at Guwahati's Bhangagarh PS and Goalpara PS against minister Jayanta Mallabaruah and others for criminal misappropriation of public property, cheating and corruption related to Gir cow procurement.
The FIRs have been lodged under Section 406 IPC (Criminal breach of trust), Section 409 IPC (Criminal breach of trust by a public servant), Section 420 IPC (Cheating and dishonest inducement of property delivery), Section 120B IPC (Criminal conspiracy), and Sections 13(1)(c) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
In the FIRs, it is stated that under the Garukhuti Agricultural Project, the Government of Assam procured a total of 300 Gir cows during the financial year 2022-2023, which were received at Rangiya Railway Station, Kamrup district.
As per the public statement of minister Jayanta Mallabaruah dated June 27, 2025, 90 of these cows were sold off by the government, allegedly due to inadequate infrastructure to house them.
Among the sold cows, 20 Gir cows were purchased by JMB Aqua Agro Pvt. Ltd., a private company operated by the wife and close associate of minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, for Rs 13.2 lakh through banking channels. The purchase of government livestock by a company directly linked to a sitting cabinet minister constitutes a clear conflict of interest and possible abuse of public office for personal financial benefit.
The FIRs said that the same company has received over Rs 50 lakhs in dairy-related subsidies under state schemes. During the same financial year (2022-23), JMB Aqua Agro Pvt. Ltd. reportedly showed an unusual increase in financial assets (over 1,900%) and profits (over 500%), raising strong suspicion of misuse of government funds, insider access to public assets, and criminal conspiracy involving public officials.
These facts suggest deliberate diversion of government resources meant for farmers into a private business controlled by individuals closely connected to the minister. This constitutes a serious offence under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act; it is further stated in the FIRs.
The FIR at Goalpara PS was lodged by the Goalpara District Youth Congress, and the one at Bhangagarh was lodged by the Kamrup Metro Youth Congress.
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