Karnataka HC stays June 18 order of single-bench allowing horse racing activities in Bengaluru

The stay order came even as preparations were on at the turf club for the start of the racing season on Saturday afternoon. The division bench has issued notices to the turf club, jockeys and punters associations in the writ appeal by the state government and has adjourned the hearing to August 13.

The state sought the stay on the June 18 order by indicating ongoing investigations into a case of alleged illegal betting activities at the turf club over which a police case was registered in Bengaluru in January this year.

Earlier on June 18, following petitions by the BTC, associations of the horse owners and trainers, jockeys and punters, a single judge of the High Court had ruled that a Karnataka government order of June 6 not to renew licenses for horse racing and betting was unjustified.

The state government had not renewed licences for horse racing by citing a police investigation that had unearthed illegal betting activities at the turf club.

Justice S R Krishna Kumar had granted the stay on the June 6 orders of the Karnataka Home department and the state Finance department rejecting the application of the BTC for conducting racing activities and an application for grant of betting license respectively.