Nagpur: In a shocking case exposing the dark side of sports aspirations, Nagpur Police have registered a fraud case against a self-styled cricket coach accused of duping two young players of over Rs 20 lakh by falsely promising them a spot in the prestigious Ranji Trophy.
The accused, identified as Qazi Zeeshan Ahmed, a resident of Anant Nagar in Nagpur with roots in Uttar Pradesh, is currently on the run. A case has been registered by Sonegaon Police Station following a complaint by Kollu Veera Venkata Phanindra Kumar (27), a resident of Vijayawada.
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According to police, the alleged fraud began when Kollu came across the accused’s cricket-related videos on Instagram and contacted him for professional guidance. During a meeting at D Y Patil Sports Academy in MIHAN, the accused allegedly claimed he could “manage” a place for Kollu in a Ranji Trophy team from another state.
The deception deepened in October 2023, when the accused visited Kollu’s residence in Vijayawada and convinced his family that Rs 14 lakh would secure a confirmed spot in the team. Around the same time, another aspiring cricketer, Rajakuntla Munindra (24) from Nandyal, was approached with a similar promise.
Believing the claims, both victims transferred money in multiple instalments. In total, Rs 20.02 lakh was deposited into the accused’s bank account.
Despite repeated follow-ups, the promised opportunity never materialised. Instead, the accused allegedly began avoiding calls and eventually went incommunicado. When Kollu travelled to Nagpur to confront him, he discovered that the accused had vacated his residence.
Police sources say the accused is now suspected to be hiding in Varanasi.
Police launch manhunt
Realising they had been cheated, the victims approached the police. A case of cheating and fraud has been registered, and a search operation has been launched to trace and arrest the accused.
The case has once again highlighted how desperate sporting dreams are being exploited by unscrupulous individuals, with police urging aspiring players and their families to verify credentials before trusting such claims.
