BENGALURU: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed a 636-page chargesheet in the alleged horse doping scandal that had rocked the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) involving the three-year-old filly Quee Lathifa and has accused six people, including BTC’s former CEO Nirmal Prasad, of involving in the racket.
The CID took over the investigation almost a year ago and submitted the chargesheet on Monday before the first ACMM court. In the chargesheet, the CID has named chief stipendiary officer Pradyumna Singh, co-owner of Queen Latifa and restaurateur Arjun Sajnani, his business partner and steward Vivek Ubhaykar, horse trainer Neil Darashah and BTC’s deputy chief veterinary officer Dr H.S. Mahesh, besides Mr. Prasad.
The chargesheet states that the accused despite having knowledge of positive dope test report on Lathifa, let her participate in the race instead of suspending her from the race.
In April last year, H. S. Chandregowda, a member of the managing committee of Karnataka Race Horse Owners’ Association (KRHOA), had filed a complaint with the High Grounds Police, accusing the BTC CEO S. Nirmal Prasad, Chief Stipendiary Officer (CSO) Pradyumna Singh, Steward Vivek Ubaykar, Stable Trainer Neil Darashah and well known breeder/owner and punter Arjun Sajnani of “covering up the dope results”. A case was registered the same day under Sections 202, 418, 420, 120 B of IPC and Section 11 (C) of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Later, the government handed over the case to CID.
