Azharuddin Appears Before ED In Money Laundering Probe

Hyderabad: Former Indian Cricket Team captain Mohammed Azharuddin on Tuesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in response to summons issued against him. The ED is probing a case of money-laundering involving financial irregularities at Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) during Azharuddin’s tenure as the HCA president. 

News reports said the ED officials recorded Azharuddin’s statements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). 

A former Member of Parliament, Azharuddin was sent summons to appear before the ED on October 3. Azharuddin requested the notice to be deferred and a fresh date be given. The ED sent him a fresh summons to appear before it on October 8. He reached the ED office in Hyderabad accompanied by his legal team. 

The money laundering case against Azharuddin is linked to three FIRs filed by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). These FIRs are about criminal misappropriation of HCA funds to the tune of Rs 20 crore. 

One of these FIRs was lodged by the HCA Chief Executive Officer, Suneel Kante Bose, based on a forensic audit report that found certain transactions on behalf of HCA and third party vendors were not genuine.   

In a statement earlier, the ED said that the police charge sheets contain  “allegations of serious irregularities in the procurement of DG sets, firefighting systems and canopies for the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium constructed in Uppal, Hyderabad.”