It's very unfortunate. It's shocking. And it's damning. it's no more save the tree or save the Tiger. Now it's simply save the horse. The new placard is up and the message is clear. Save the more than 50 horses languishing in make-shift stables in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. The horses, it is clear from pictures emanating from the Jabalpur site are in bad health, many nursing the cuts and wounds and the rest struggling to get their lungs and hearts pumping at the desired levels.

It is learnt that 154 horses were kept at the Hyderabad Race Club (HRC). What happened to nearly 100 horses and where are they? is one big question that is left unanswered. What is known is that 57 horses were abruptly moved out in early May from the HRC campus to a private property owned by Sachin Tiwari of Jabalpur and eight are feared dead at the site in Raipura village in Jabalpur district. When posed with a question as to how HRC provided stables for the horses owned by Hitha Net Private Ltd, HRC chairman R Surender Reddy in a statement to the press revealed that HRC gave premises on rent to Suresh Paladugu and the moment HRC found that something was going wrong, the club asked him to vacate, giving him a 15-day notice. "We are no way connected to his activities and I'm personally working with the authorities concerned to help the horses," said Surender Reddy. 

In a telephonic conversation with Suresh Paladugu, a high-flying technology entrepreneur, Paladugu said: " I have been wrongly targeted in this sad and cruel episode. I don't own any of these horses as reported by a section of the press nor do I have business links or any financial connection with Hitha Net." The next big question is how did HRC provide accomodation to 154 horses without clear ownership titles and if Suresh Paladugu is not the owner, how did HRC serve him a notice to vacate. It is clear from the many angles that a couple of top administrators from the racing fraternity are running helter-skelter looking for shelter from the heat generated after some of the animal lover groups, animal welfare activists, National Horse Breeding Society Of India (NHBSI) have stepped up to take stock and expose the diabolical designs of the men involved while saving the horses struggling to stay alive.

In a letter to the chairman, Turf Authorities Of India (TAI), Mysore Race Club, NHBSI asked the TAI to seek a genuine explanation from HRC as to why the 57 survivors from the 154 horses were not provided shelter and treated at the animal welfare centre which exists in Hyderabad which NHBSI understands is funded and supported by the all Turf Clubs including HRC. 

The response to this query from deputy secretary of HRC, N Kiran Reddy was that HRC had only rented out stables. And it was solely the decision of  Hitha Net to shift the horses to Jabalpur and HRC had no role to play in the transportation or shifting of horses. "We in fact are ready and keen to help in the welfare of horses stationed at Jabalpur. The feed and medicines required, we are ready to provide, but the people who are in-charge of the horses at Jabalpur have refused to take help, pointing out that they have enough stock of food, medicines and vets at call to attend to the ailing horses. 

When informed that NHBSI has sent out a couple of vets and farriers, medicines and feed including 450 bags of fodder from champion trainer Pesi Shroff, Paladugu shot back saying that it is a big lie. "Hitha Net, I'm aware has enough fodder stock and medicine supply for the next few months and they don't need any support," said Paladugu adding that NHBSI and Pesi Shroff may be looking forward to genuinely help, but the men incharge at the Jabalpur site are capable and the horses are slowly recovering and not dying as being falsely reported," said the head honcho of Horse Power Sports League (HPSL), who shot to fame sponsoring most of the Derby events at all the premier Indian horse racing centres apart from the Indian Turf Invitation Cup. 

Are the horses really recovering? a veterinary report a fortnight ago (May 12) by Dr Prakash Mehra reveals that more than 10 horses require immediate medical intervention. The wounds, it is learnt are untreated and the infected areas are looking bad.In addition suspected cases of Glanders are also reported. This only confirms that Paladugu is not aware of the ground reality and that the horses under the care of Sachin Tiwari stationed at Jabalpur are struggling to stay alive.

Paladugu denying that he has any business connections with Hitha Net said: "I'm a technology entrepreneur providing software and streaming services to racing clubs in India and to my clients in Phillippines. When posed with the question did he conduct match racing league promoted by HPSL at Hyderabad and betting on the two-horse races at Philippines, "There is no betting done either locally and internationally on the two-horse racing format," said Suresh Paladiugu.

Well now that the media has dug deep to expose the cruel scam, many in the line of fire are looking to duck and wash their hands of the muck they created favouring their blue eyed boys. NHBSI in the letter to TAI chairman pointed out that apart from India's leading animal welfare activist Mrs Maneka Gandhi, the Jabalpur collector Deepak Saxena has directed the police to investigate the circumstances of how these animals were transported from Hyderabad to Jabalpur without transport clearances and the required veterinary documentation. In addition NHBSI has urged TAI to institute a time bound enquiry into the sad episode. 

Well now that the controversy has caused embarrassment internationally, it is time the issue is addressed on war footing by the government agencies and the racing clubs in a bid to prevent further escalation of what really is a shameful scandal.