ED questions Mohammad Azharuddin over money laundering case involving HCA

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has questioned former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin in relation to a money laundering case involving the Hyderabad Cricket Association. Reports claim that his statement was recorded by the central agency in accordance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

He was requested to come before the agency on October 3, but he requested a postponement of the notice. Subsequently, ED requested that he arrive on October 8. At eleven in the morning, the member of parliament arrived at the office wearing a white kurta pyjama, escorted by his legal team.

The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) financial issues are the subject of the investigation, according to News18. Notably, the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau filed three FIRs and charge sheets for the theft of funds totalling INR 20 crore.

In relation to the matter, raids have been conducted on the homes of several HCA office bearers, including Congress MLA and former HCA president Gaddam Vinod, former HCA secretary Arshad Ayub, and former vice president and Indian cricket player Shivlal Yadav.

It was also discovered that the former HCA officials, without following the required tendering procedures, awarded vendors higher prices than the going rates, and in certain cases, the paperwork for these awards was also absent. It’s interesting to note that although the same officials made the advance payments, no work has been completed.

Additionally, there was an excessive delay in the job, which increased the expenditure. “Arguments of serious irregularities in the procurement of DG sets, firefighting systems, and canopies for the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium constructed in Uppal, Hyderabad,” according to the chargesheet, have been substantiated by the FBI.

Also Read: ED summoned Mohammad Azharuddin in a corruption case involving HCA

Azharuddin, meanwhile, has refuted any involvement in any of these. According to him, the accusations are “false,” motivated, and “just a stunt” meant to damage his name.