Hyderabad: Days after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) served notices to the chief executive officer of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) in connection with irregularities, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has now reportedly started making inquiries in the matter.
CBI, Hyderabad, was reportedly directed by officers from New Delhi to call the victims and get details. Following the directions, the Hyderabad CBI officials reportedly asked former employees to come to office and submit evidence.
Earlier, a team of officials of ACB recorded statements of former employees of the HCA into allegations that `9-lakh bribe was being paid for selection of players.
It was reported that the former employees, who are reportedly under pressure from the present management, explained about the selection of players in the under-19 category and other irregularities taking place in the HCA.
The ACB registered cases under Prevention of Corruption Act on the allegations of bribe for selecting the players. Pattapu Srinivas, vice-president of Continental Cricket Club, had demanded and
accepted bribe of Rs.9 lakh from the complainant to get his son selected to play tournaments in the Under-19 cricket team in 2021.
A team of ACB officials recorded statements of previous employees and asked them to submit any information related to bribery activities taking place between 2021-22 and 2022-23 years in HCA.
However, it was also reported that the previous employees brought the issue that they were being harassed by the HCA management asking not to cooperate with the investigating agency. A previous employee complained of a heart stroke and was admitted in a hospital due to pressure from HCA management.
The former employees also lodged a complaint with the Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and CBI to look into the irregularities in selection of players during 2021-22 and 2022-23.
