The run up to the 2014 elections to the Managing Committee of the Royal Western Indian Turf Club has been under the media glare like no other elections in the history of the club. There has been continuous barrage of questions posed and answered by the rival leaders. We had carried the Press Conference report of Mr K N Dhunjibhoy, former Chairman of the Club, about the manifesto of his team and his vision for the club. He had also put some questions for the current Chairman of the Club Vivek Jain. Both the posers and reply were carried in an earlier article. Subsequently, Vivek Jain sent a questionnaire which sought answers from Dhunjibhoy. Dhunjibhoy has sent in answers while adding raising some more questions.


Q.1. Why did he employ a warned off person at his Stud Farm for 18 years? Irrespective of the rules, was this morally right?

A.1. Being one of the suspects in the Knight and Day case trainer C.D.Katrak relinquished his licence to the club in 1992. Umed Singh refused to appear before the Stewards at that time and was thus issued a notice that until he appeared before the stewards, he may not enter any race course.

I started the Nanoli Stud Farm in 1994 and was looking for skilled workers for my farm. Mr. Umed Singh was recommended to me by trainer C.D.Katrak and in good faith I employed him as a farrier. Mr.Umed Singh was subsequently cleared by the Court in the criminal charges against him. However when I later suspected him of foul play on the farm, I removed him from my service.

Q.2 Why did he not inform the Stewards of his police complaint for 2.5. months?

A.2. Since mine was a criminal complaint, I had no obligation to inform the Stewards.

Q.3 Is it true that he/his trainer has heard the tapes months ago. How did he get access to this?

A.3. The first and the only time I heard the Deepak Popat tapes was on 4/12/2014 at the Stewards Meeting. Any other information, I have obtained is from the Investigating Officer, being the complainant.

Q.4 Is is not true he initiated that Popat gave the tapes to the Stewards at his behest to embarrass Mr. Jain?

A.4. I would like to state that I have never spoken, seen or communicated directly or indirectly with Mr. Popat. The reasons for his submission of the recordings to the committee are well stated in the covering letter submitted with the tapes by his lawyer. In any event we should applaud the courage shown by Mr. Popat in submitting evidence which may result in conviction of certain people involved in a conspiracy to dope my horse “ Bullseye”.

Since Mr. Jain has stated unequivocally that he is not involved, he has no reason to be embarrassed.



Q.5 He was Chairman of RWITC for six years. What were his results on getting any financial benefit to the Club from the State and the lease?

A.5. The lease of the club had expired in 1994 it was during my tenure as Chairman and after a great deal of effort, we managed to renew the lease on 7/4/2004.

Q.6 Is it true he continues to maintain a close rapport with Gallops/ even has functions there, though they owe the Club 20 cr+

A.6. This point was brought up by Mr. Mohan Thakur at the EOGM in November, Mr Jain is the one who brought this situation upon the club because of his personal animus with the Gallops owners who are club members and opposed to him. It was he who informed DNA through a friendly journalist about the renovation in the lawns as illegal construction which led to the strife with them and this is what led to the loss of revenue of 20 crores not counting legal expenses of about 4 crores and loss of interest to the club. I feel Mr. Jain owes the club an explanation regarding this.

Q.7 What is his stand to sign off the Club to a private developer which has resulted in a Court stay at Mahalakshmi?

A.7. Very interesting question. Mr. Jain himself had approved the plan so what does he have to say about that?

Q.8 What steps were initiated by him and results achieved for a Club House during his six years as Chairman?

A.8. For the information of Mr. Jain, during my tenure as Chairman I had obtained an approval from the Executive Engineer Building Proposals City 1 dated 12/12/2005 approving plans to renovate the 2nd enclosure stand into a Club House. The approval was even revalidated upto 11-12-2009. Mr.Jain was always against this proposal. These documents are in the club`s possession should Mr. Jain want them.

Q.9 . Is it not true he was in daily touch with Pesi Shroff, even though he was under enquiry in the Bullseye matter?

A.9. Bullseye happens to belong to me. Pesi Shroff is my trainer who was under enquiry. It is obvious and necessary that I should keep in touch with my trainer not only for Bullseye but for the other horses that he is training for me. Rule 50(c ) of the rules of racing states that “ no person who is a steward or a members of the BOA shall sit at an enquiry or hearing, if he has any direct or indirect interest in any horse, retained Jockey, trainer, or the person involved in the enquiry/hearing in question”. Accordingly I could not and did not sit in the Pesi Shroff enquiry. It is therefore absurd for Mr. Jain to suggest that I should not stay in touch with Mr. Pesi Shroff. On the other hand Mr.Jain was in touch by his own admission with Cooji Katrak during his on going enquiry in which Mr. Jain participated !

Q.10 Is it true he tried to influence Mrs Gandhi and AWBI and appoint his own people and conduct a parallel enquiry on the Bullseye case?

A.10. Yes, it is true that Pesi Shroff and I, went to meet Mrs. Gandhi and AWBI to express our concerns at the way Mr. Jain and his team were conducting this enquiry. We also wished to express our concerns about the abuse of the drug Boldenone by certain unscrupulous persons and had requested her to intervene, which she did. This has helped to a great extent to bring the culprits to book. Mr. Jain and his team were always impeding Pesi and Nanoli Stud from getting to the bottom of the case. Finally we were proved right when his team had to swallow humble pie and he had to recuse himself from the enquiry for displaying his bias and prejudice. Even the Director General- Anti Corruption gave a dissenting judgement in this case.

Q.11. Is it not true that he was Chairman for six months of year 2013-14 where the Club made a loss and yet he is only blaming Mr Jain?

A.11. Yes, it is true that Mr.Jain was Chairman for 6 months of the financial year ending June 2014. But Mr.Jain had inherited a profit of over 7 Crores in June 2013 which was turned into a loss of 12 crores by June 2014. Apart from this the projected loss for 2014/15 is 15 crores out of which 6 months are almost over.

Q.12 Is it not true that in year 12-13 when the Club made a huge profit, Mr Jain was Chairman for half the year?

A.12.. In the financial year 2011/12 there was a loss of 2.19 crores. Though I got only 6 months, this loss was converted into a profit of over 7 crores by year ending June 2013.

Q.13 . Why has he not yet come clean on the 2011 sabotage of 3 horses at

A.13. I have not clearly understood Mr. Jain`s question to come clean. The 3 horses that arrived from Nanoli Stud in 2011 were compulsorily tested on arrival. The tests proved positive for Anabolic Steroids. The trainer was fined and no other charges were leveled against anybody.




QUESTIONNAIRE from K N Dhunjibhoy to Vivek Jain

Q 1. Mr. Jain has been questioned by the Crime Branch and asked to give a statement . As the Chairman of the Club and a sitting steward why is he not revealing his statement made to Crime Branch in spite of the Crime Branch confirming that Mr. Jain has a copy of the statement and they have no objection to him revealing the same.

A 1. I am not obliged to give it to Mr Dhunjibhoy. The investigation is going on with the Crime Branch, and forms part of their process.

Q 2. The final hearing of the Pesi Shroff case was on 12th and 14th of March 2014. Also Cooji Katrak was under inquiry in a drug related offence concerning a horse Montreal under his charge at that same time.
(a) Is it true that Mr. Jain and Mr. Cooji Katrak have been in regular contact during a period which coincides with Cooji Katraks attempt to obtain false affidavits from my ex-staff with the help of Deepak Popat, Umed Singh and a lawyer based in Hyderabad as revealed by the Investigating Officer`s report to the Sessions Court.

A 2(a)I can be in touch with Katrak on several matters, I speak to professionals routinely. This in no way indicates any complicity as mischeviously alleged bt Dhunjibhoy.

(b) Has Mr.Jain confirmed in his statement given to the Crime Branch on 10/9/2014 that the voice on the tape is of Mr. Cooji Katrak?

A 2 (b)He may find out from the Crime Branch.

(c) Was Mr. Jain attempting to find out from Mr. Cooji Katrak if he had been able ot get the false affidavits as planned (during the Invitation Week Races at Hyderabad in the first week of March, 2014) so that Mr. Katrak could present them as evidence on 12/14th March and thereby debar Shroff and Dhunjibhoy for 5 years?

A 2(c) It is denied. I had no idea of any affidavits till it surfaced much later as part of the tapes. Dhunjibhoy`s allegations are all to do with the politics of the Club and his deep malice for me.

( d) Mr. Jain is aware that the Rules prohibit a trainer or a steward from contacting one another, when a trainer is under inquiry regarding any matter concerning his inquiry or any other racing matter. Then why did he breach the rules and why did he participate in Cooji Katrak`s enquiry?

A 2(d) Dhunjibhoy is hardly the person to teach me participation rules. He regularly takes part on matters which concern him directly. Often he participates all through the enquiry, agitates his points and then opts out at the last moment. A few years ago he continued to take part even when the entire body (including its Chairman then, Mr Shyam Ruia) opined otherwise. Let him get his own house in order before throwing stones at me continuously.

( e) In his statement made to the Crime Branch on 10/9/2014, has Mr. Jain given a clean chit to Mr. Cooji Katrak in the doping of Bullseye?

A 2(e) He seems to know everything apparently. Then why ask these questions? It is obvious Mr Dhunjibhoy has heard the tapes, seen the documents, and has intimidated the Stewards all through.