The situation has spiralled into a national controversy. A Hyderabad-based "tech entrepreneur," and his shadowy network of companies have emerged as key players in this sordid episode. The betting app at the heart of the operation – Tropang Karerista – was reportedly streaming races from India to a foreign audience, completely bypassing Indian regulatory oversight. When the app ran afoul of Philippine authorities in October 2024, operations abruptly ceased, and the horses were left to die – starved, wounded, and without basic medical attention.

 

The horrifying reality was exposed by Rajasthan-based polo player and equine activist Lavanya Shekhawat, who filed a complaint with PETA India. The subsequent investigation has uncovered an appalling trail of suffering: horses with ribs protruding, open wounds festering, and basic veterinary care denied. Reports from two veterinary surgeons – Dr. Prakash Mehra and Dr. Anil Lahane – confirm many medically indefensible action.

 

It took the intervention of animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi to finally force local authorities into action. The visuals and veterinary reports leave no doubt – this is a national disgrace, and without immediate accountability, it will inevitably escalate into an international scandal that could jeopardize India’s standing in global equestrian circles.

 

Despite the Hyderabad Race Club’s attempt to distance itself from the promotor Suresh Kumar, grave questions remain unanswered. How could such an operation run under the nose of the club? Why were 154 horses kept on their premises without oversight? Why was due diligence not conducted before granting HPSL access to the racecourse?

 

Worse still, the Turf Authorities of India – including BTC – accepted hefty sponsorships from HPSL without verifying their legitimacy. An internal committee member even raised red flags about the company’s opaque funding sources, but his concerns were brushed aside. The clubs are now exposed – both morally and legally – to potential government and criminal scrutiny.

 

In response, leading figures in the racing and breeding community – Ameeta Mehra, Vijay Shrike, Zeyn Mirza, Dr. C S Poonawalla, K N Dhunjibhoy, Tegbir Brar, Joydeep Dutta Gupta, Pesi Shroff, and Simone Poonawalla – have rallied to provide emergency aid: feed, medication, supplements, veterinary and farrier services. But private compassion cannot substitute for institutional accountability.

 

The NHBSI has called for an immediate, time-bound, and independent inquiry into the affair. It demands answers: How did such a criminally negligent operation take root within the premises of a premier turf club? Who authorized it? And who will be held responsible for the unspeakable cruelty inflicted on the animals?

 

If the Turf Authorities of India fail to act decisively and transparently, they risk triggering serious government action, including sanctions and criminal investigations. With the sport of racing already teetering under financial and reputational strain, this scandal could very well be the final straw.

 

The Turf Authorities of India must immediately sever all ties with the promoter of HPSL and cancel every existing sponsorship, webcast arrangement, and betting operation linked to companies run by Suresh Paladugu. Failing to do so will not only deepen the embarrassment already caused but also call into question the very integrity of the Indian racing ecosystem.

 

With damning evidence mounting and public outrage escalating, continued association with those responsible for this scandal will be seen as complicity. If Indian turf clubs wish to preserve even a shred of credibility — nationally and internationally — decisive action is non-negotiable.

 

This is no longer just a racing issue. It is a matter of national integrity, animal welfare, and international scrutiny. The racing community must act – not out of damage control, but out of conscience.

 

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