Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has asked the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) to allow former employees to access the official email for retrieval of the required information as part of its investigation into the allegations of the cricket body’s officials accepting bribes for the selection of players.
In a notice served on HCA CEO M. Rajesh, the ACB investigation officer stated that the bureau had registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Pattapu Srinivas, vice-president of Continental Cricket Club, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 9 lakh from the complainant to get his son selected to play tournaments in the Under-19 cricket team in 2021.
During the investigation, several notices were served on the HCA CEO seeking information as part of the investigation. However, the HCA officials replied stating that information was not available with them.
“The information asked during the course of investigation is necessary to conclude the investigation, and hiding, refusing to give information voluntarily will make the person liable for criminal action," the ACB said in the notice.
The HCA failed to respond earlier notices stating that there was no data in the email. To get data, a fresh notice was served asking CEO to allow previous employees who have knowledge of the bribery case to access the emails.
The allegation in the case pertains to the tournaments held during 2021-22, and 2022-23 seasons for the U-19 and senior players of men's cricket teams.
During the questioning of previous employees, it was found that a person used to send emails to the officers and ACB sought access to those emails. The ACB also requested the HCA CEO to inform Md Yousuf, manager, cricket operations, HCA, to be available to assist them to retrieve the documents.
The ACB also sent a questionnaire to the HCA seeking answers in connection with the allegations of HCA officials accepting a Rs 9 lakh bribe from each player. It also asked HCA to furnish the time period (dates) declared by the HCA for the selection of cricket players under 19 team by the HCA for the year 2021 and 2022.
The ACB has also asked HCA to furnish the list of players selected for the Under-19 cricket team (male) to play all tournaments conducted by BCCI during the year 2021-22 and 2022-23.
The ACB sought details as to whether A. Avanish Rao represented by Club UBI was selected for the Under 19 cricket team for the year 2020-21. If not, it asked HCA to mention the reasons for not selecting him.
