The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Indian cricket captain and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin for questioning in a money laundering case linked to alleged financial irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).
Azharuddin, the former president of the HCA, is accused of misappropriating funds during his tenure.
The 61-year-old former Member of Parliament was asked to depose before the federal agency at its office here on October 3 and get his statement recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
However, the former cricketer has sought more time from the agency.
The probe is related to alleged financial irregularities in the HCA in which the ED had conducted searches in November last year.
The money laundering case stems from three FIRs and charge sheets filed by the Telangana anti-corruption bureau (ACB) for alleged criminal misappropriation of funds of the HCA to the tune of Rs 20 crore.
The charge sheets contain allegations of serious irregularities in the procurement of DG sets, firefighting systems and canopies for the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium constructed in Uppal, Hyderabad,” the ED had earlier in a statement.
As per the police charge sheets, despite deadlines, several works were delayed inordinately leading to escalated costs and budget enhancements and corresponding losses to the HCA.
It was found that the office bearers of the HCA, including its then secretary, president and vice-president and others, in collusion with private parties, “arbitrarily” got various tenders and works allotted to preferred vendors/contractors at higher than market rates without following proper tender processes and in many cases even before the receipt of quotations, the agency had alleged.
Advance payments were made to many contractors but no work was done by them, it added.
The ED had said its raids undertaken last year led to the seizure of digital devices, “incriminating” documents and “unaccounted” cash of Rs 10.39 lakh, it said.
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 approaching the Telangana High Court. The matter finally reached the Supreme Court, which constituted the one-member committed to clear the mess.
The Supreme Court-appointed committee had 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 till early 2023.
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