BENGALURU, 22 JUNE

Karnataka High Court has put a temporary halt on horse racing and betting activities at the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) following a series of legal battles.

The dispute arose when the State government denied BTC's application to conduct races between June and August citing the on-going criminal proceedings related to alleged Goods and Services Tax (GST) evasion. However, in response, BTC, along with other associations representing horse owners, jockeys, trainers, and punters, challenged the government's decision in court.

Initially, the petitions contested the government's delay in processing the license applications. However, after an official rejection, the arguments shifted focus. On 18 June, a single-judge bench issued a temporary order allowing races to proceed while the legal case continued. But, the initial relief was short-lived. On 22 June, a higher court division bench intervened, supporting State government's appeal. The division bench acknowledged the State government’s strong grounds for refusing the license due to the criminal case. Following this, they imposed a stay on all racing and betting activities until the single-judge bench reaches a final verdict. Salar News