The Crime Investigation Department (CID) has filed an 80-page preliminary chargesheet in court, alleging that the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) suffered a loss of `92.08 crore due to large-scale financial irregularities during the tenure of its former office-bearers. The chargesheet is based on forensic audit findings and statements recorded from 63 witnesses.
The CID has placed under scrutiny decisions taken during the tenure of former HCA president Arshanapally Jagan Mohan Rao, who led the association from October 20, 2023, to June 9, 2025. Former secretary Devaraj Ramchander, former treasurer C. Jagannath Srinivasa Rao, and CEO Sunil Kante have also been named in the document for their alleged roles and administrative actions.
According to the preliminary findings, HCA received total revenues of `257.12 crore during the period, of which `211.98 crore came as grants from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The CID alleged that despite this substantial inflow, the association incurred losses running into `92.08 crore because of unauthorised expenditure, questionable contracts, and procedural violations.
The chargesheet reportedly flagged serious discrepancies in documents used to establish the administrative status of certain HCA-affiliated clubs. The CID also examined allegations that Jagan Mohan Rao secured his election through Srichakra Cricket Club using forged signatures of Gowlipura Cricket Club president and former minister Krishna Yadav.
The CID has found indications of major procedural breakdowns in multi-crore tender operations. Witness statements cited in the chargesheet suggest that essential administrative procedures were bypassed, standard meeting minutes were not maintained during tender-selection periods, and operational guidelines framed by the association’s core committees were ignored.
The investigation also covered alleged irregularities in ticket sales, contracts, and expenditure decisions, including claims that funds were spent in violation of High Court directions.
The preliminary chargesheet marks a significant escalation in the criminal probe into alleged embezzlement of cricket-development funds, unauthorised cash withdrawals, and procedural forgery within HCA. The CID is expected to pursue further investigation based on the forensic audit, documentary evidence, and witness testimony before filing a final chargesheet.
The CID probe began following a series of reports published by Deccan Chronicle in these columns, exposing a pattern of alleged fraud in the HCA ranging from misappropriation of BCCI development funds and diversion of funds during IPL matches through fake invoices, to the alleged disbursement of crores from HCA accounts to 136 clubs using blank cheques issued on verbal instructions without authorisation letters.
It has also reported inflated procurement contracts for cricket balls, bucket chairs and gym equipment, including payment of `1.03 crore for 8,340 cricket balls with no record of delivery, alleged illegal gains of `90.86 lakh by a former office-bearer and his family from suppliers, and irregularities in tenders awarded without public notice or in violation of HCA by-laws, alleged manipulation of club membership and election records through forged documents, along claims of corruption in team selections and sale of complimentary passes.
Jagan Mohan Rao and other HCA office-bearers also pressured Sunrisers Hyderabad for an additional 10 per cent of match tickets — beyond the 3,900 complimentary tickets already allotted to HCA. The vigilance probe found that Rao used coercion, harassment and alleged blackmail, including locking VIP galleries when SRH refused his demands.
The reports also flagged alleged misuse and siphoning of funds through complimentary corporate boxes and alleged irregular transfer of club ownerships and manipulation of HCA’s administrative and election-related records. Further coverage pointed to the alleged illegal sale of IPL tickets by senior HCA officials, which led to freezing of HCA finances.
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