49 Buffaloes in Kanji House for 10 Months, Over ₹16 Lakhs Burden on Municipal Corporation

Unique Dilemma for Bhopal Municipal Corporation

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation is grappling with an unusual predicament, as 49 buffaloes seized by Itkhedi Police in January 2026 have been held at the Arwalia Kanji House for nearly ten months. The corporation has already incurred a substantial expense exceeding ₹16 lakhs on the maintenance of these animals.

Legal Dispute and Financial Strain

The ongoing court case and the inability of the animal owners to provide the necessary ownership documents have placed the entire responsibility of caring for these buffaloes squarely on the shoulders of the Municipal Corporation. This situation has become a significant financial and administrative challenge for the Bhopal Municipal Corporation.

Details of Seizure and Current Status

In January 2026, the Itkhedi Police confiscated these 49 buffaloes on charges of illegal transportation. Since then, the animals have been housed at the Arwalia Kanji House, with all care expenses being borne by the Municipal Corporation. Preliminary estimates indicate that this expenditure has now surpassed ₹16 lakhs and continues to rise.

During their ten-month stay at the Kanji House, 9 buffaloes have died, while 4 new calves have been born. This has led to a change in the total number of impounded animals and the complexities of their care. This unexpected increase and mortality rate present an additional concern for the corporation, raising animal welfare issues and increasing management complexities.

Impact of Judicial Delays

According to Municipal Corporation officials, the primary hurdle is that they are unable to make independent decisions regarding these animals due to the pending court case. As per legal regulations, any disposition or return of impounded animals cannot proceed until a final court order is issued. This legal delay obligates the Municipal Corporation to bear the cost of the animals' sustenance indefinitely.

Furthermore, the failure of the animal owners to submit the required ownership documents is another significant reason why the process of returning the buffaloes has stalled. Without proper documentation, the corporation cannot hand over these animals to any individual, even if they claim ownership. This situation leaves the buffaloes in the Kanji House while the financial burden on the corporation grows.

Path Forward and Demand for Cost Recovery

To address this critical situation, the Municipal Corporation is now preparing to hand over the buffaloes back to the Itkhedi Police. This step is viewed as a preliminary point for further legal or administrative proceedings. Additionally, the corporation plans to demand reimbursement from the police for the expenses incurred over the past ten months on the feed and maintenance of these buffaloes.

The corporation argues that since the police are the agency that seized the animals, they should bear the cost until the matter is resolved. This entire case highlights the issue of care and associated financial liabilities for impounded animals until the legal process is completed. It also underscores the need for coordination between the administrative machinery and the judicial system to reduce the government expenditure and mitigate the plight of these animals caught in such circumstances.