CID Arrests HCA General Secretary in Pune

Hyderabad: CID nabs HCA secretary hiding in Pune hotel in cricket funds fraud case; brings him to Hyderabad The Crime Investigation Department (CID) arrested the absconding HCA general secretary Devraj Ramachander, from a star hotel in Pune. Ramachander had been on the run since the CID registered cases in connection with the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) financial fraud case.

When the CID officials had arrested five other accused in the case, the HCA secretary escaped the arrest following a tip-off given by Uppal Inspector Election Reddy about impending CID raids and arrests. Following the tip-off, Ramachander fled to Maharashtra and took shelter at a luxury hotel in Pune.

Based on intelligence inputs, a CID team located the hotel in Pune where he was hiding and apprehended him. He was subsequently brought to Hyderabad on Friday and produced before the court for judicial remand. The CID is likely to seek his police custody for further interrogation.

The investigation has revealed that HCA president A. Jagan Mohan Rao and other apex council members allegedly diverted `4 crore of HCA funds under the pretext of organising summer cricket camps. Records showed that the camps were conducted at various locations across Telangana to provide cricket coaching to youngsters. However, the CID found no evidence that such camps were ever held.

In a related development, the Malkajgiri district court on Friday granted bail to three accused — HCA treasurer C.J. Srinivasa Rao, Sri Chakra Cricket Club president Kavitha, and her husband C. Rajendra Yadav. The court also dismissed a petition filed by the CID seeking an extension of police custody for HCA president Jagan Mohan Rao.

Advocate Kiran Kumar Gannamaneni, representing the accused, confirmed that the court granted bail to the three while rejecting the CID’s petition for the extension of police custody.