Starved, shifted and dying: The dark saga of 57 heritage racehorses transported from Hyderabad to Madhya Pradesh

Time of India

24-05-2025

Madhya Pradesh is investigating the suspicious deaths of valuable racehorses, heritage breeds transported from Hyderabad to Jabalpur
BHOPAL/
JABALPUR
: The Madhya Pradesh government has launched a full-scale investigation into the suspicious deaths of several high-value racehorses—belonging to heritage breeds—brought from Hyderabad and housed in Raipura village of Panagar, Jabalpur district.
Jabalpur District Collector Deepak Saxena has directed the Superintendent of Police to investigate the circumstances under which the horses were transported to Jabalpur without the required medical and transport clearances. According to officials, around 57 horses were covertly moved between 29 April and 3 May by local resident Sanjay Tiwari, in association with a Hyderabad-based businessman.
'Maneka Gandhi informed me that Sachin Tiwari had transported some horses from Hyderabad to Jabalpur.
Upon investigation with the help of the police, the horses were located at a stud farm in Raipura village. They underwent medical examinations, and it was found that some horses were seriously ill,' Collector Saxena told TOI.
'Unfortunately, eight horses died in the initial days. After regular health check-ups and treatment, the remaining horses have now recovered. The veterinary department has been instructed to investigate and address the irregularities related to the transportation and maintenance of the horses.
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Our top priority was to ensure their proper treatment,' he added.
While the local administration has claimed that caretaker Sachin Tiwari was the first to report the deteriorating condition of the horses, sources reveal that the issue was flagged earlier by Maneka Gandhi, based on a formal complaint by Lavanya Shekhawat—a Rajasthan-based aspiring polo player and horse lover.
Shekhawat had written to PETA India, highlighting the plight of horses at the Hyderabad Race Course.
In her email, she wrote: 'This is an urgent appeal regarding the horrifying condition of horses at the Hyderabad Race Course. Many are suffering, malnourished, injured, and some have already died due to neglect and abuse.' Following her intervention, the horses were allegedly shifted to Jabalpur in an attempt to avoid scrutiny and possible legal action by animal welfare authorities.
After arriving in Jabalpur, several horses displayed signs of illness.
Tiwari alerted the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department only after the situation went out of control. A rapid response team was formed under the National Action Plan to investigate a possible outbreak of glanders—a contagious and potentially fatal disease affecting equines—and other zoonotic threats. Under strict biosafety protocols, blood serum samples from all 57 horses and eight individuals in contact with them were collected and sent to the National Research Centre on Equines in Hisar, Haryana.
Test results for 44 horses have come back negative, while results for the remaining are awaited. Due to glanders containment protocols, post-mortems of the eight deceased horses were not conducted. Veterinary staff continue to monitor and treat the surviving horses under supervision.
The horses include two prominent and distinct breeds: Marwari and Thoroughbred. Marwari horses, native to Rajasthan, are known for their unique inward-turning ear tips, loyalty, endurance, and bravery.
Thoroughbreds, developed in England, are celebrated globally for their speed, agility, and dominance in competitive racing.
Dr Prafull Moon, Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department, confirmed that the eight people who came into contact with the horses were also tested. 'Precautionary measures are in full effect while we await final results. The horses remain under quarantine and care,' he said.
Authorities revealed that the horses were moved using passports issued under the name of "Hitha Net India Pvt Ltd", a Hyderabad-based business linked to horse racing. However, mandatory medical clearances were reportedly not obtained. 'We have directed the Superintendent of Police to verify all documentation and investigate how these horses were moved without prior approval,' Saxena stated.
Sachin Tiwari, the caretaker, maintained that he acted in good faith and alerted officials as soon as health concerns arose.
He said that the horses' passports included their medical history and that Jabalpur was chosen for its favourable conditions to establish a horse farm.
In April, Raghuvendra Singh Dhunlod, Vice President of the Indigenous Horse Society of India, also wrote to the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), citing Lavanya Shekhawat's concerns about the dire conditions of indigenous Marwari horses at the Hyderabad Race Course.
Shekhawat had also shared disturbing images of emaciated and dying horses. 'Many had already died with no feed, fodder, or grooms to care for them,' she noted.
Dhunlod explained that a large number of indigenous horses had been sourced from Rajasthan and taken to Hyderabad for a local racing initiative. 'The project was going well for some time but was abruptly abandoned by the owners, leading to rapid deterioration in conditions and the deaths of many horses.
Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, we urge immediate action by the AWBI and Hyderabad's district administration,' he wrote.
According to sources, the Indian horse racing operation was backed by HPSL, a company led by Suresh Paladugu. He allegedly ran a horse betting business through Hitha Net India Pvt Ltd and "Un Dos Matchup Racing" at the Hyderabad Race Club. The operation reportedly owned 154 horses and ran 24 races a day.
However, by February 2025, the venture collapsed amid accusations of result manipulation and financial mismanagement.
Staff were unpaid, and horses were left without food or water. By May 2025, only 64 horses remained; about 90 had gone missing—many presumed dead.
'Some horses were moved to Jabalpur under the care of Sachin Tiwari, Paladugu's associate, where further neglect was discovered. Only 50 malnourished horses survived, with minimal care. Despite a PETA alert and intervention by the National Horse Breeding Society of India, rescue efforts were blocked. One severely injured mare, Grey Shadow, went missing again—suspected to have been killed to hide evidence of abuse,' said Shekhawat, who has continued to advocate for relocating the remaining horses to safety.
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