Former Indian cricket team captain and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday in a money laundering case related to alleged financial irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association. According to the information, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) interrogated Azharuddin in the case and recorded his statement.
Azharuddin reached ED office
Azharuddin reached the ED office at Fateh Maidan Road, Hyderabad at around 11 am. His legal team was also with him. The 61-year-old former MP was initially asked to appear at the agency's office on October 3, but he asked for a new date and hence was called on October 8. The investigation is related to alleged financial irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), which the ED took up in November last year.
Allegations of financial irregularities during HCA's tenure
Sources said Azharuddin's role has been on the agency's radar during his tenure as HCA president. There was no immediate reaction from the former Indian captain, who had unsuccessfully contested the assembly elections last year. After the case was registered by the Telangana Police last year, he had said that the allegations against him were false and part of a conspiracy. This was just a stunt by his rivals to tarnish his reputation.
There was no accounting of money transactions..!
Money laundering case, Telangana Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) of HCA arrested Rs. Pertains to three FIRs and chargesheets filed in connection with alleged criminal misappropriation of Rs 20 crore. The ED said digital devices, 'incriminating' documents and Rs 10.39 lakh were seized in the raids conducted last year. There was no account of the transactions of the seized money. Azharuddin started his political innings in 2009 by winning from Moradabad Lok Sabha seat of Uttar Pradesh. He is also the working president of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC).
Azharuddin's career
Azharuddin has played 99 Tests and 334 ODI matches for India. He has scored 6215 runs in Tests at an average of 45.04 and 9378 runs in ODIs at an average of 36.92. He scored 22 centuries and 21 half-centuries in Tests while in ODIs he scored seven centuries and 58 half-centuries. Apart from this, Azharuddin has also taken 12 wickets in ODIs. His best score is 199 runs in Test and 153 runs in ODI. Azharuddin has also captained Team India in three ODI World Cups in 1992, 1996 and 1999.
He was accused of match fixing in 2000
In the year 2000, Azharuddin was accused of match fixing. South African captain Hennessy Cronje then indicated in his confession about match fixing that Azharuddin had introduced him to some bookies. India's premier investigative agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation, investigated and published a disappointing report on the state of world cricket which included the names of prominent Indian cricketers. Azhar's name was at the top. Despite pleading innocence, the BCCI banned him from playing cricket for life in 2000. He joined the Congress Party on 19 February 2009 and started his political journey.