Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin was recently questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) concerning a money laundering case tied to the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). According to reports, the ED recorded Azharuddin’s statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
This investigation is part of an ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities within the HCA. Azharuddin was initially summoned to appear before the ED on October 3, but after seeking a moratorium, he finally appeared on October 8. He arrived at the ED office in Hyderabad, dressed in a traditional white kurta-pyjama, accompanied by his legal team, around 11 am.
The central agency’s investigation relates to financial discrepancies in the HCA, reportedly amounting to INR 20 crore. Telangana’s Anti-Corruption Bureau had previously filed three FIRs and charge sheets, citing serious mismanagement of funds within the association.
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The investigation points toward inflated contracts for services, with no proper tendering process. In some cases, receipts for transactions are missing, and advance payments were made without any work being completed, contributing to a significant escalation in costs.
#Hyderabad: Former Indian cricket captain and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin on Thursday appeared before the ED in a money laundering case linked to alleged financial irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).
The probe is related to alleged financial… pic.twitter.com/DgHZGcCoGg
— @Coreena Enet Suares (@CoreenaSuares2) October 8, 2024
Several prominent figures associated with the HCA, including former vice president and cricketer Shivlal Yadav, Congress MLA and former HCA president Gaddam Vinod, and former secretary Arshad Ayub, have also been under scrutiny.
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Their residences were raided as part of the investigation, revealing further allegations of misconduct, particularly involving the procurement of DG sets, firefighting systems, and canopies for the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad. Despite these claims, Azharuddin has denied any involvement in the alleged misappropriations, calling the accusations baseless and politically motivated. He labeled them a “stunt” designed to tarnish his reputation.
