ED questions Mohammad Azharuddin for over 9 hours in money laundering case: Reports
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) reportedly grilled former India captain and Congress politician Mohammad Azharuddin for over nine hours on Tuesday, October 8, in connection with a money laundering case. The case relates to alleged financial irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).
The ED had issued a summons to the former Hyderabad cricketer to appear before it on October 3. However, Azharuddin requested additional time from the agency after which he was issued a fresh summons for October 8.
According to a report in news agency PTI, the federal agency has recorded his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The report added that the 61-year-old reached the ED office around 11 am on Tuesday and left after 9 pm.
"All the allegations which have been made were baseless, frivolous and done with a malafide intention. Beyond that I have nothing more to say. I don't want to go into the details...," the agency quoted the former India skipper as telling reporters.
The ED conducted some searches in connection with the above case in November last year. Azharuddin's role in alleged financial irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association when he was the president is also said to be under the scanner.
It was earlier reported that three FIRs and charge sheets have been filed by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) concerning 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. The ED had even conducted raids on ex-vice president Shivlal Yadav and former HCA secretary Arshad Ayub among others.
Mohammad Azharuddin ranks 8th on the list of batters with the most runs for India
A prolific batter during his playing days, Azhar featured in 99 Test matches and 334 ODIs between 1985 and 2000, scoring 6,215 and 9,378 runs, respectively. He notched up 22 centuries in Tests and seven in one-dayers.
With a combined tally of 15,593 runs from 433 matches, the former cricketer is eighth on the list of batters with the most runs for India in international cricket. He captained India in 221 matches across Tests and ODIs, winning 104 of them and losing 90.
Known for his stylish wristwork, Azhar remains the only batter in history to score hundreds in his first three Test matches.