MS Shanker
The circus at the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) shows no sign of stopping. With its credibility in tatters and governance in chaos, the latest bombshell comes in the form of a searing letter from a club member—a parent, no less—calling out corruption, cover-ups, and cartelisation that are choking the sport.
This letter, from businessman and club owner Ramakrishna Udupa, landed on Acting President Daljit Singh’s desk just days after the sham of a “continued” Annual General Meeting (AGM) on July 19. That meeting, wrapped up in under six minutes—faster than a cup of instant noodles—had only one objective: push through the appointment of an Ombudsman and Ethics Officer. Both were “cleared” in record time amid loud protests, including demands for Telangana-based nominees. The move reeked of a pre-scripted operation by an entrenched clique.
Was the state government watching silently—or worse, complicit? That remains unclear. But selective application of court orders and total silence on glaring violations raise more than a few eyebrows.
In his open letter, he pulls no punches. He reminds HCA that its President and Treasurer have already been arrested in connection with a CID case (Crime No. 2/2025)—a damning indicator of institutional rot. He calls for a truly independent Anti-Corruption Unit, free from political influence or internal loyalties.
Udupa acknowledges the Apex Council’s recent token gestures: the July 15 meeting that promised a grievance redressal system, rule-based governance, and academy revamp. But, he argues, all of this amounts to window dressing, with no action on the real disease: deep-seated corruption, nepotism, and bullying of dissenters.
“Without safeguards, any redressal mechanism is just eyewash,” he warns, demanding anonymity for whistleblowers, external oversight, and time-bound resolutions.
But his letter goes well beyond mere policy critique. It is a damning dossier of names, dates, transactions, and alleged corruption that’s personal, petty, and systemic.
The Seven Alarming Allegations
- CSR Fund Scam: ₹5,00,000 donated by Aar Autocorp Pvt. Ltd. for player development was allegedly diverted by Shankar Yadav and Vinod Ingle, using the name of HCA Joint Secretary T. Basavaraj for legitimacy. No records of fund utilization were ever furnished.
- False Promises, Player Sabotage: He alleges his son was offered a spot in the 3-day league but was deliberately sidelined under manipulated conditions, resulting in his first-ever exclusion from state-level selection.
- Retaliation for Raising Questions: After he demanded accountability, there were orchestrated efforts to block his son’s registration across clubs, effectively blacklisting him.
- Club Cartelisation: He exposes a murky network of clubs working in collusion to block fair selection, undermine merit, and protect vested interests.
- Access to Confidential Bank Details: In a bizarre turn, funds were hastily transferred back into a director’s account, raising the question: How did Shankar Yadav access these private details?
- Extortion of Parents: Clubs like Bhima and Cambridge allegedly continue to demand payments from players’ families, despite already receiving official grants from HCA. This, he argues, amounts to double-dipping and exploitation.
- Zero Action, Zero Accountability: Despite repeated complaints, no inquiry committees have been set up. No one named has been questioned, let alone disciplined. Instead, these very individuals continue to attend official meetings, interact with young players, and enjoy unchecked access.
“This is not about recovering the ₹5 lakh,” writes Udupa. “It is about institutional integrity, fairness for players, and the misuse of official authority by those invoking proximity to power.”
Demands and Final Warning
Udupa concludes with a renewed appeal to HCA to:
- Set up an independent Anti-Corruption Unit on the lines of BCCI’s internal mechanism and Justice L. Nageswara Rao’s reform recommendations.
- Take disciplinary action against Shankar Yadav, Vinod Ingle, and others named in his complaint.
- Investigate how sensitive financial data was accessed and misused.
- Protect young players from retaliatory exclusion.
“The damage done isn’t just to my family,” he writes. “It’s to the credibility of the institution. And the silence from the top is deafening.”
So, Who Will Bell This Cat?
The question now staring Hyderabad cricket in the face is this: Will anyone in power—be it the BCCI, the state government, or the judiciary—step in before it’s too late? Or will parents, players, and fair-minded stakeholders continue to be steamrolled by HCA’s arrogant cabal?
Until someone answers that call, Hyderabad cricket’s future remains in a chokehold.
