Hyderabad: A sensational investigation by the Telangana Crime Investigation Department (CID) has revealed large-scale irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) elections held on October 20, 2023. Among the most serious findings: 23 illegal institutional votes, allegedly cast by IAS and IPS officers, played a decisive role in the election of Jagan Mohan Rao as HCA President.
The revelations, uncovered during the ongoing interrogation of five accused individuals over the past five days, have triggered widespread demands for the election to be declared null and void, and for a complete overhaul of the HCA administration.
Illegal Voting by Government Officers
CID officials stated that representatives from certain institutions, many of whom were not eligible voters, cast ballots in the election, including senior IAS and IPS officers who allegedly acted as proxy voters. These 23 fraudulent votes are believed to have tipped the scale in favor of Jagan Mohan Rao, raising serious questions about the legitimacy of the poll.
CID is now preparing to summon and question all those who voted during the 2023 election to determine under whose instructions or influence these institutional votes were secured.
TCA Slams HCA, Cites Constitutional Violations
The Telangana Cricket Association (TCA) has come out strongly against the HCA and demanded that the elections be annulled. TCA General Secretary Dharam Guruva Reddy accused political leaders and HCA officials of orchestrating a “fraudulent election hijack” with clear violations of both the BCCI Constitution and Supreme Court-mandated Lodha Committee reforms.
He pointed out that under BCCI rules, Associate Members (institutions) are not allowed voting rights, yet institutional votes were not only permitted but cast by ineligible government officers who were never part of player panels.
Political Interference Alleged
TCA alleged direct political interference in the HCA elections, claiming that leaders such as K.T. Rama Rao, T. Harish Rao, and MLC K. Kavitha played roles in securing Jagan Mohan Rao’s victory. Election officer Sampath Kumar was also accused of deliberately ignoring irregularities under pressure from influential politicians.
Corruption in HCA Contracts and Finances
The CID probe has also uncovered other irregularities, including:
- Catering contracts awarded without tender; bills of ₹2,000 per plate paid from HCA funds.
- Stadium power cuts due to unpaid electricity bills in 2024.
- Manipulated spending and non-compliance in procurement processes.
Non-Compliance by HCA Bodies
TCA further alleged that 155 affiliated clubs, institutions, and district associations within HCA fail to meet the compliance standards set by the Lodha reforms. With three-fourths of HCA’s General Body deemed ineligible, TCA argues the entire association should be disqualified.
Demands for a Fresh, Transparent Election Process
TCA has made the following demands:
- Cancellation of HCA’s registration by the Telangana government.
- Suspension of HCA’s BCCI membership.
- Formation of a joint oversight committee including BCCI and TCA representatives.
- Probes by CID and Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the roles of political leaders and election officials.
TCA asserts that only a clean, transparent, and player-focused administration can restore credibility to cricket in Telangana.
