Mohammad Azharuddin skips ED summons in money laundering case

NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricket captain and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin skipped summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday in connection with a money laundering case related to alleged financial irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), according to official sources quoted by PTI.
The 61-year-old former MP was summoned to record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at the ED office in Hyderabad.However, he requested more time and has been issued a fresh summons for October 8.
The investigation pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the HCA. In November last year, the ED conducted searches related to the case, raiding the premises of former HCA office bearers, including ex-vice president and Indian cricketer Shivlal Yadav, Congress MLA and ex-president Gaddam Vinod, former HCA secretary Arshad Ayub, and the office of S S Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and the residence of its MD Satyanarayana.
The money laundering case originates from three FIRs and charge sheets filed by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for alleged criminal misappropriation of HCA funds amounting to Rs 20 crore. One of the FIRs was registered based on a complaint by HCA CEO Suneel Kante Bose after an interim forensic audit report found certain transactions with third-party vendors to be "not genuine" and detrimental to the association's interest.
The police charge sheets allege serious irregularities in the procurement of DG sets, firefighting systems, and canopies for the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad. Despite deadlines, several works were delayed, leading to increased costs, budget enhancements, and corresponding losses to the HCA. The office bearers of the HCA, including its then secretary, president, and vice-president, allegedly colluded with private parties to allot tenders and works to preferred vendors at inflated prices without following proper tender processes and even before receiving quotations.
The ED's raids last year resulted in the seizure of digital devices, "incriminating" documents, and "unaccounted" cash of Rs 10.39 lakh. The forensic report noted that "Mohammad Azharuddin, the then president of the association in the 9th Apex Council meeting held on March 3, 2021 had sought to take up discussions regarding firefighting equipment. However, subsequently, without assigning any reasons, the tender was not allotted to any of the bidders. Thereafter, HCA had floated a second tender for the same work".
Azharuddin, a recipient of the Padma Shri and Arjuna Award, began his political career by winning the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh in 2009. He currently serves as the working president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC).