ED Grills Mohammed Azharuddin in ₹20 Crore Hyderabad Cricket Association Money Laundering Probe

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Former Indian cricket team captain and Congress leader Mohammed Azharuddin appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, to answer questions related to a money laundering investigation involving the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).

The inquiry centers on alleged financial irregularities during Azharuddin's tenure as HCA president. The ED had initially summoned Azharuddin to testify on October 3, but he requested a postponement, leading the agency to issue a new summons for his appearance on October 8.

Dressed in a white kurta-pyjama, the 61-year-old former Member of Parliament arrived at the ED office in Basheerbagh around 11 AM, accompanied by his legal team. This investigation follows the registration of three First Information Reports (FIRs) and charge sheets by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau

It accused HCA officials of misappropriating funds amounting to ₹20 crore. These allegations were triggered by a complaint from HCA Chief Executive Officer Suneel Kante Bose after a forensic audit revealed that several transactions with third-party vendors were "not genuine" and detrimental to the association's interests.

Specific accusations include serious irregularities in procuring diesel generator sets, fire-fighting systems, and canopies for the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad. The police's charge sheets assert that various projects experienced significant delays, leading to inflated costs and budget overruns.

The ED alleges that HCA officials, including Azharuddin, colluded with private contractors to secure tenders at inflated prices without adhering to proper bidding processes. Many contractors received advance payments without delivering any work. In addition to questioning Azharuddin, the ED previously conducted searches of several HCA officials' properties.

It included those of former vice president Shivlal Yadav and ex-HCA president Gaddam Vinod, as part of the ongoing investigation. These raids reportedly resulted in the seizure of digital devices, incriminating documents, and unaccounted cash totaling ₹10.39 lakh. Throughout the investigation, Azharuddin has maintained his innocence.

He labeled the allegations against him as "false" and "motivated." He described the accusations as a ploy by rivals to tarnish his reputation. A Padma Shri and Arjuna Award recipient, Azharuddin has been active in politics since winning a seat in the Lok Sabha in 2009 and currently serves as the working president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee.