The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) is once again in the crosshairs of the Telangana Crime Investigation Department (CID), which has launched a third forensic audit into its finances. The latest probe focuses on the alleged misuse of nearly ₹200 crore during the tenure of president A. Jagan Mohan Rao, marking one of the largest corruption allegations in the association’s history. This audit covers the period from October 2023 to July 2025 and comes on the heels of a series of scandals that have plagued the HCA for over a decade.
The CID has already arrested Jagan Mohan Rao, Treasurer C.J. Srinivas Rao, CEO Sunil Kante, and two club executives in connection with multiple charges, including forgery, cheating, misappropriation, and criminal breach of trust. Investigators allege that election documents were falsified to secure positions of power, club memberships were manipulated, and public funds were diverted through inflated contracts and backdoor deals. In addition, the administration faced accusations of pressuring IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad for additional complimentary tickets, raising further questions about abuse of authority.
This is not the first time the HCA has been embroiled in financial controversies. Earlier audits revealed irregularities involving ₹2.3 crore, while past cases have included inflated stadium construction costs, poor maintenance, and mismanagement of cricket development funds. Since 2011, at least eight criminal cases have been registered against the association, creating a long trail of allegations and eroding public trust.
The new forensic audit is expected to dig deep into bank transactions, tendering processes, vendor contracts, and cash flow patterns to determine whether the ₹200 crore under scrutiny was spent legitimately. Officials are also tasked with identifying specific individuals who may have benefited from the alleged misappropriation. If wrongdoing is confirmed, the fallout could include criminal prosecutions, administrative restructuring, and potential intervention from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The significance of this audit goes beyond the numbers. For years, the HCA has been criticised by players, fans, and cricket stakeholders for its governance failures and political interference. Social media outrage has been mounting, with many calling for sweeping reforms to restore credibility and ensure that funds are used for infrastructure, player development, and grassroots cricket.
This third audit represents a decisive moment for the association. It will not only test the robustness of the HCA’s internal controls but also determine whether cricket administration in Hyderabad can be salvaged from decades of mistrust. For the CID, the challenge lies in tracing complex financial transactions, untangling layers of alleged corruption, and building a case strong enough to withstand legal scrutiny.
The outcome could shape the governance of cricket in Hyderabad for years to come. Whether the audit uncovers concrete evidence of large-scale fraud or clears the current administration, one thing is clear—transparency, accountability, and trust are now the most critical runs to score in this high-stakes innings.