New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin’s legal troubles intensified as he failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday in a money laundering case. Azharuddin requested more time, and the ED is expected to issue a new summons for his appearance.
The case against him involved allegations of financial irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), where nearly Rs 20 crore in funds were reportedly misappropriated.
Allegations of misuse of stadium construction funds
Azharuddin served as the president of HCA from September 2019 until June 2021, when he was forced to resign amid accusations of fund mismanagement. The ED had previously launched a money laundering case against HCA officials and conducted raids at nine locations in Telangana, seizing key documents and digital evidence.
According to the ED, HCA officials were involved in financial misconduct during the construction of the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. They allegedly awarded contracts to private companies at inflated prices, causing significant financial losses to the association. Three FIRs were registered in connection with this case, and the investigation is underway.
Cricket legend turned politician
Azharuddin, once one of India’s most successful cricket captains, transitioned into politics after his cricket career. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, on a Congress ticket in 2009. In 2014, he contested the Lok Sabha elections from Rajasthan but lost. In 2018, he was appointed as the president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee.
Known for his elegant batting style, Mohammad Azharuddin remains one of India’s greatest cricketers. He played 99 Test matches and 334 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for India before his career ended abruptly due to a match-fixing scandal in 2000. Azharuddin scored 6,215 runs in Test matches with an average of 45.03, including 22 centuries and 21 half-centuries. In ODIs, he accumulated 9,378 runs, featuring 7 centuries and 58 half-centuries.
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