Moneypenny-Gate! EFI Slammed Over Customs Exemption For Deep Ahlawat's Import Of Competition Horse

Last Updated:February 24, 2026, 14:23 IST

EFI has come under scrutiny after it facilitated a customs duty exemption for Arjuna awardee Major General Deep Ahlawat to import a competition named Lovely Miss Moneypenny.

The conduct of the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) has come under scrutiny after it facilitated a customs duty exemption for Arjuna awardee Major General Deep Ahlawat to import a competition horse, despite him being a pension-drawing former athlete no longer active in the sport.

Under the Arjuna Award pension scheme, recipients must submit an undertaking affirming that they are not active competitors. Major General Ahlawat, a retired equestrian rider and Arjuna awardee, is currently receiving this pension.

Documents accessed by sources show that on June 26, EFI wrote to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade seeking the necessary import licence with duty concessions to facilitate the import of six horses from Germany, the UK, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Belgium, and Hungary.

The federation stated in the letter that this move would help in the growth of equestrian sport in India and improve standards to win medals at international events.

On September 9, 2025, EFI again wrote to the Sports Ministry, stating that Major General Ahlawat would import two horses for training and participation in various events and that a duty exemption was required for one.

The federation requested the ministry to issue a Customs Duty Exemption Certificate (CDEC) so that the consignment could be released at the earliest.

The imported horse is a warmblood named Lovely Miss Moneypenny and the sequence of communications has raised significant questions about EFI’s decision-making process.

Facilitating a competition horse import with duty concessions seems inconsistent with the pension undertaking that requires awardees to step away from active sport. When applying for the pension, the applicant must declare that they have “retired from the active sports career".

Lt. Col. MM Rahman, who as EFI Joint Secretary recommended Ahlawat for the horse import, said they followed the EFI SOP while making the decision.

“The import has been done in accordance with the provisions of the SOP issued by EFI on the import of sporting horses," Rahman said.

However, the SOP does not clarify whether a retired athlete can be recommended for importing a sports horse, especially with a duty exemption.

When this was pointed out to Rahman, he replied, “He can also import for his son (Major Yashdeep Ahlawat) who is an active rider."

However, the SOP does not mention that a retired athlete can import a horse for their family.

Also, the duty exemption is given to eminent sports persons. In this case, the horse was imported for Euro 7000, and 52 percent of the total import amount should have been paid as duty.

EFI Secretary General Col. Jaiveer Singh admitted to the occurrence of such an event.

“Such brazen misuse of position by EC members was rampant in the last year. There are more serious incidents yet to come to light," Jaiveer said.

The Delhi High Court had recently ordered fresh elections for the EFI and directed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to constitute an ad-hoc panel to run the federation’s affairs for three months.

“I welcome the honourable Delhi High Court’s decision to appoint an Adhoc committee, which should have been done long ago. I urge the Sports Ministry to ensure that anyone with a conflict of interest is not appointed to the Adhoc committee, particularly individuals owning clubs or whose relatives are active riders aspiring to represent India and coaches," said Jaiveer.

(With Inputs From Agencies)

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