ED Summons Azharuddin In Money Laundering Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today summoned former Indian cricketer and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin in connection with an alleged money laundering case during his tenure as the President of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).

According to the ED, around Rs 20 crore was misappropriated under Azharuddin's leadership, raising suspicions of fund misuse within the HCA.

The ED notice directed Azharuddin to appear for questioning.

This is the first time that Azharuddin has been summoned in the case.

The charges stem from allegations that funds allocated for the procurement of diesel generators, firefighting equipment and canopies for the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium in Uppal were misused.

The HCA had ordered a forensic audit of the finances from March 2020 to February 2023, which uncovered the diversion of funds and cash transfers to private agencies. Following this, HCA CEO Sunil Kante Bose lodged a formal complaint with the police. An initial case was registered following these claims, and in October 2023 the Hyderabad police also filed criminal cases against Azharuddin and several former HCA officials. The charges included criminal breach of trust, fraud, forgery and conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code.

Azharuddin has denied the charges, calling them politically motivated. He claimed that his rivals were conspiring to damage his reputation, and vowed to fight the allegations legally.

Notably, in November 2023 Azharuddin was granted bail in several cases filed against him.

The cricketer had also faced allegations of match-fixing back in his playing days, which even led to the premature demise of his career, but he was eventually cleared of the charges.