Hyderabad. Former Indian cricket team captain and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday in connection with the investigation into the money laundering case related to alleged financial irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). Official sources gave this information. Sources said the federal agency will interrogate him and record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Earlier, the 61-year-old former MP was asked to appear before the federal agency on October 3, but he sought some time after which he was called on October 8. Azharuddin, wearing white kurta-pajama, reached the ED office on Fateh Maidan Road at around 11 am. His legal team was also with him.
This investigation is related to alleged financial irregularities in HCA. ED had conducted raids in this regard in November last year.
Sources said Azharuddin’s role during his tenure as HCA president is under the agency’s scanner.
There was no immediate reaction from Azharuddin. He had contested the Telangana Assembly elections last year, but lost.
After the case was registered by the Telangana Police last year, he had said that the allegations against him were “false” and “malicious” and were done to tarnish his image. The money laundering case pertains to three FIRs and chargesheets filed by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in connection with alleged criminal misappropriation of Rs 20 crore of HCA.
One such police FIR was registered on the complaint of HCA Chief Executive Officer Sunil Kant Bose. The FIR was filed after a forensic audit (interim report) found that certain transactions entered into by HCA with third party vendors were “fraudulent” and caused “loss” to the interest of the association. .
The ED had said in an earlier statement, “The chargesheet alleges serious irregularities in the purchase of diesel generators, fire fighting systems and umbrellas for the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium built in Uppal, Hyderabad.” According to the police chargesheet, there were excessive delays in many works despite the deadlines, resulting in loss to HCA due to cost overruns and budget overruns.
The agency has alleged that it was found that HCA officials, in collusion with people, awarded various tenders to preferred contractors at prices higher than market rates, without following proper tender procedures and in many cases even before ‘quotations’ were received. And allocated work. It said that these office bearers include the then Secretary, President and Vice President of HCA and others. It was also said that advance payment was made to many contractors even though they had not done any work.
ED had raided the premises of former HCA office-bearers, including former HCA vice-president and cricketer Shivlal Yadav, Congress MLA and former HCA president Gaddam Vinod, former HCA secretary Arshad Ayub, besides a company named ‘SS Consultants Private Limited’. Ltd. and the residential premises of its Managing Director (MD) Satyanarayana.
ED had said that in the raid conducted last year, digital devices, “incriminating” documents and Rs 10.39 lakh were seized. There was no account of the transactions of the money that was seized.
It was also mentioned in the forensic report that “in the 9th Apex Council meeting held on March 3, 2021, the then President of the Association Mohammad Azharuddin had demanded a discussion regarding fire fighting equipment. However, later the tender was not allotted to any bidder without assigning any reason. After this, HCA had issued another tender for the same work.” The former cricketer has also received Padma Shri and Arjuna Award. He started his political innings in 2009 by winning from Moradabad Lok Sabha seat of Uttar Pradesh. He is also the working president of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC).