Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned cricketer-turned-politician Mohammed Azharuddin in a money laundering case linked to the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).
The allegations against Azharuddin, the former president of the HCA, are grave, as he is accused of misappropriating substantial funds during his tenure.
The former Indian cricket captain and a former Member of Parliament, currently the working president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), has been asked to appear before the ED on Thursday.
The ED, probing the Rs 20 crore fraud in the HCA, questioned former cricketers Arshad Ayub and Shivlal Yadav in December last year.
The central agency also questioned former Minister and former HCA president G. Vinod.
In November last year, the ED searched the residences of Vinod, Shivlal Yadav, and Arshad Ayub.
The searches were conducted at nine locations across the state under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The ED’s investigation, which is based on three FIRs registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Hyderabad, is a significant step in the legal proceedings relating to the criminal misappropriation of Rs 20 crore of the HCA’s funds.
The ACB registered FIRs for alleged irregularities in procuring DG sets, fire fighting systems, and canopies for the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium construction. There were also allegations that several works were delayed inordinately despite deadlines, leading to escalated costs and budget enhancements and corresponding losses to the HCA.
In October last year, four criminal cases were registered against Azharuddin and others for alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 3.85 crore. The cases were booked at Uppal Police Station under Rachakonda Police Commissionerate. The funds, which were meant for the purchase of cricket balls, gym equipment, fire safety equipment and chairs at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, were allegedly diverted for personal use, it was alleged.
Azharuddin and others were charged with criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy, all of which are serious criminal offences that carry significant penalties upon conviction.
A city court later granted anticipatory bail to Azharuddin in four cases for alleged misappropriation of HCA funds.
The former cricketer had termed the allegations false and motivated.
Azharuddin was elected HCA president in 2019, and his term ended in February 2023, with the Supreme Court appointing a one-member committee to manage HCA and facilitate the conduct of elections. Azahruddin’s term saw infighting in the HCA, and the warring groups approached the Telangana High Court. The matter finally reached the Supreme Court, which constituted the one-member committee committed to clearing the mess.
The Supreme Court-appointed committee disqualified Azharuddin from contesting the HCA elections. He was removed from the list of voters on the grounds of conflict of interest, as he was president of the Deccan Blues Cricket Club while serving as the president of HCA until early 2023.
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–IANS
