Come September and gymkhana members across the city start sharpening their knives. The elections for managing committees for these clubs, whose memberships can touch vertigo-inducing Rs 1 crore, are held in this month. As campaigning begins, poisonous (only figuratively, yet) letters start flying around, “leaked” messages make the rounds, mudslinging and slander are routine, and the police also receive complaints of attempted murder and abuse, and are pressured to investigate them.

Many clubs, in fact, muzzle members from speaking to the media, election or no election. Most are simply too wary to speak about these going ons except on condition of anonymity, afraid of consequences—the loss of the privilege of mulligatawny soup and Eggs Kejriwal on the lawns. And there rises new legion—whistle blowers—who get shriller as elections near. Some members have even requested protection for these whistle blowers, ie keep them anonymous and protect them from any action by the committee.