Hyderabad : In a recent development, a Hyderabad court extended anticipatory bail to former Indian cricket captain and Congress leader, Mohammed Azharuddin. This legal respite pertains to four cases alleging the misappropriation of funds from the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) during Azharuddin’s tenure as its president until earlier this year.
The court has prohibited the Rachakonda police from arresting Azharuddin, instructing them to serve a notice under Section 41A of the CrPC for questioning instead.
This decision brings relief to Azharuddin, who not only served as an MP but also holds the position of working president in the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee. Furthermore, he is currently contesting as the Congress candidate in the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency.
The allegations against Azharuddin and others stem from last month when four criminal cases were registered, accusing them of misappropriating approximately Rs 3.85 crore. The cases were lodged at Uppal Police Station, falling under the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate’s jurisdiction.
The funds, originally intended for the purchase of cricket balls, gym equipment, fire safety equipment, and chairs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal, were allegedly misused. These cases were initiated based on a complaint filed by HCA CEO Suneel Kante Bose.
The charges against Azharuddin and his associates include criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. The former cricketer vehemently denied these allegations, dismissing them as false and motivated.
Azharuddin expressed his stance on the matter, stating, “I want to state that these are all false & motivated allegations & I am in no way connected with the allegations. I will reply to the motivated allegations against me at an appropriate time. This is just a stunt pulled by my rivals to ruin my reputation. We shall stay strong and fight harder.” This statement was posted on ‘X’.
