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Former Indian captain and Congress politician Mohammad Azharuddin reportedly skipped summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday, October 3, in connection to a money laundering case. The former India batter has sought more time and has been issued a fresh summons for Tuesday, October 8.
As per a report in The Times of India, the money laundering case is related to alleged financial irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). The TOI quoted official sources as telling PTI that Azharuddin was summoned to record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at the ED office in Hyderabad.
The PTI report added that ED had conducted searches in connection with the irregularities in November last year. Azharuddin's role in the case when he was the president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association is said to be under the scanner.
Three FIRs and charge sheets have been filed by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in connection with the money laundering case in which alleged criminal misappropriation of funds of the HCA to the tune of ₹20 crore is said to have taken place. In connection with the same, ED had also raided ex-vice president and former Indian cricketer Shivlal Yadav and former HCA secretary Arshad Ayub among others.
Mohammad Azharuddin: No stranger to controversies
Azharuddin grabbed the limelight when he became the first player to score centuries in his first three Tests. No other player has achieved the feat since. However, the stylish Hyderabad cricketer's career was marred by controversies.
In 2000, the 61-year-old was slapped with a life ban by BCCI for his alleged role in match-fixing. He, however, contested the ban and got it overturned in 2012 by the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
"It was a long drawn out legal case and it was painful. We fought in the court for 11 years. Finally the verdict has come and I am happy that the ban has been lifted by the court," Azhar had commented after the court ruled in his favor.
As a cricketer, the former India captain featured in 99 Tests and 334 ODI, scoring 6,215 and 9,378 runs, respectively. He led Team India in all three ODI World Cups in the 1990s.
