Jaipur: Seeking penance for killing a cow proved costly for a farmer in Rajasthan who was denying his crime before the police. The proof of atonement submitted by him to the village panchayat landed him in jail that too after intervention of state home minister Gulab Chand Kataria.

The farmer Madho Singh of Gadhmora village in Karauli district was trying to drive away a cow from his farm land. The cow ran into a ditch and got seriously injured after he threw a stick at the animal. Another villager Mahendra filed a complaint with the police.

Meanwhile, the village panchayat decided that Madho should bear the cost of cow’s treatment. However, a few days later the cow died and the village pancha-yat issued a new order that Madho should go to repent for his crime at the Ganges.

Madho not only went to the Ganges and performed the rites but also got a written certificate from the priest as a proof that he had duly obeyed order of the panchayat. But he kept denying that he had killed the cow. He told the police that the cow died because it fell into a ditch.

Two police officers of different police stations were handed over the investigation. Finally, DSP rank took over the probe. Meanwhile, Mahendra filed a plea to the home minister along with the certificate issued by the priest and sought action against Madho Singh.

On the basis of that certificate, the home minister agreed that Madho Singh had indeed killed the cow, after which Madho Singh was arrested.