CID probe reveals 23 illegal votes from IAS, IPS officers helped HCA president Jagan Mohan win poll

Hyderabad: The investigation by the Telangana Crime Investigation Department (CID) into the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) scam has unearthed startling, alleged irregularities such as illegal votes by IAS and IPS officers and opportunities being kept away from rural cricketers.

On the fifth consecutive day of questioning, CID officials interrogated five accused at their office, uncovering evidence of electoral malpractice during the HCA elections.

‘23 fake votes helped Jaganmohan Rao win elections’

According to CID findings, Jagan Mohan Rao was elected as HCA president through illegal means. During the elections, he allegedly ensured that 23 institutional votes were cast fraudulently.

Officials discovered that representatives were illegally commissioned to vote on behalf of these institutions, with votes being cast not by genuine voters but by IAS and IPS officers.

CID to question voters and officials

CID has prepared to interrogate those who cast votes in the previous HCA elections to determine under whose influence these votes were secured. Investigators concluded that these 23 institutional votes were decisive in Rao’s victory.

Catering contracts awarded without tenders

Further, the CID is verifying records seized from the Uppal Stadium.

It was found that catering contracts were allotted to a favoured firm without any tender process. Bills amounting to Rs 2,000 per plate were raised and paid using HCA funds, officials revealed.

Stadium lights were cut off over unpaid bills

The CID is also checking power bills paid by the HCA in 2024. In the past, power supply to the stadium was cut off during a match due to non-payment of pending electricity bills.

In connection with the case, CID teams have conducted searches at the residences of the accused. Officials plan to produce the accused before the court on Tuesday.

TCA demands HCA election to be declared void over constitutional violations

The Telangana Cricket Association (TCA) has called for the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) elections held on October 20, 2023, to be declared null and void, citing serious constitutional and legal violations.

Addressing the media on Monday, TCA General Secretary Dharam Guruva Reddy accused HCA and several political leaders of manipulating the election process to gain control over Telangana cricket.

HCA constitution not in line with BCCI rules

According to TCA, the amended HCA Constitution of 2018 does not comply with the BCCI Constitution as it omits the Associate Member clause, which is essential for membership eligibility. Institutions under the Associate Member category should not have voting rights, but HCA allowed institutional votes in violation of BCCI norms.

Voting by Ineligible Representatives

The BCCI Constitution mandates that representatives attending AGMs or SGMs must be cricketers who played for the respective institution and elected by the players’ panel. However, TCA alleged that institutions sent department heads, many of whom were IAS and IPS officers, as proxies instead of eligible cricketers.

This, TCA said, violated the Supreme Court-approved Justice Lodha Committee reforms prohibiting government servants and ministers from participating in cricket administration.

Political influence in Elections

TCA claimed that around 23 institutions voted through persons not listed in the approved voter list and alleged heavy political interference from then ministers K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), T. Harish Rao, and MLC K. Kavitha to ensure the victory of Jaganmohan Rao. The association further alleged that election officer Sampath Kumar ignored these violations under political pressure.

Calls for CID and ED Investigation

Dharam Guruva Reddy urged the CID and ED to investigate the roles of KTR, K. Kavitha, Harish Rao, and election officer Sampath Kumar in what he termed a “fraudulent election hijack”. He stated that these leaders manipulated the system to control HCA funds and cricket administration in Telangana.

Majority of HCA Body Fails Compliance

Highlighting systemic rot, TCA pointed out that nearly 155 clubs, institutions, and district associations affiliated with HCA do not meet compliance standards set by the Justice R.M. Lodha Committee reforms approved by the Supreme Court. Guruva Reddy argued that when three-fourths of the HCA General Body is ineligible, the entire association should be disqualified.

Demands for fresh administration

Concluding the press meet, TCA demanded the cancellation of HCA’s registration by the state government and suspension of its BCCI membership. They urged the BCCI and Telangana government to constitute a committee including BCCI and TCA representatives to establish a clean, fair, and transparent cricket administration in the state.