The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday directed the Jabalpur district collector to submit a detailed report by June 25 regarding the physical condition and welfare of horses housed at a private farm in Raipura village, following the reported deaths of several animals.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf issued the direction while hearing a public interest petition filed by local animal rights activist Simran Issar. The petitioner alleged that as many as 49 horses were illegally transported to the farm without proper documentation or veterinary records.
According to the petition, at least eight horses died in May, allegedly due to heat exposure, while three more deaths occurred in recent days. The court instructed the collector to assess the health of each remaining horse and provide a report on the environmental conditions at the farm, including the availability of food, water, and shelter. The collector must also submit findings on the causes of the deaths already reported.
The petition names Sachin Tiwari as a respondent, alleging that he transported the horses from HithaNet India Private Limited in Hyderabad to Jabalpur in violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The petitioner’s counsel, Umesh Tripathi, claimed that Tiwari is associated with Suresh Paladugu, who is linked to HithaNet India Private Limited — a firm that launched an online horse racing betting venture in October 2023 under the name UnThose Matchup Racing, targeting users in the Philippines.
Jabalpur Collector Deepak Saxena earlier stated that an inquiry committee, headed by the district panchayat CEO, has been constituted to verify whether the horses are being properly cared for.
