New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday summoned former cricketer and Congress leader Mohammed Azharuddin in a money laundering case, pertaining to Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).
The former India captain, however, didn’t appear in the office and sought time, according to news reports.
Azharuddin, who previously served as president of the HCA, is accused of misappropriation of Rs 20 crore allocated for the procurement of diesel generators, firefighting systems, and canopies for the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad’s Uppal. The HCA authorities alleged that procurement contracts worth Rs 3.8 crore were awarded to a bidder, and the payment was made even though the latter failed to complete the work in time.
In October 2023, four criminal cases were lodged by the Hyderabad Police against Azharuddin and other former HCA officials for criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, and conspiracy, under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Azharuddin has obtained an anticipatory bail. The former India captain claimed that he was named in the FIR only because he was president of HCA during the period when the funds were allegedly misappropriated.
He served as the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) president from September 2019 until September 2022. His tenure ended when the Supreme Court-appointed Supervisory Committee took over the HCA amid internal disputes and allegations of irregularities.