Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday ordered issue of notice to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on a petition filed by Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) Chief Executive Officer and four others, who have been arraigned as accused in an alleged case of doping a racehorse, questioning registration of a criminal case against them.

Asking the CID to complete the investigation, Justice K.N. Phanindra adjourned further hearing on the petition and asked the CID to file its statement of objection.

Nirmal Prasad S., Chief Executive Officer of the BTC; Pradumana Singh, Chief Stipendiary Officer; Vivek Gurudas Ubhayakar, a steward; Arjun Sajnani, joint owner of racehorse Queen Latifa; and Neil Alfred Darashah, horse trainer; have filed the petition challenging the First Information Report (FIR) by the High Grounds police.

The case was registered based on a complaint filed by H.S. Chandre Gowda, a racehorse owner and a member of the managing committee of Karnataka Race Horse Owners’ Association.

The petitioners have claimed that there was no prima facie case to proceed against them while contending that they did not indulge in any cheating and the action taken by them was as per the procedure prescribed in the medication rules in the racing calendar, and also as per the bench mark set by turf authorities across the country.