Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa is facing legal action after an arrest warrant was issued against him for his alleged involvement in a Provident Fund (PF) fraud. Uthappa, who was serving as a director at Centaurus Lifestyle Brands Pvt Ltd, is accused of failing to deposit Rs23.36 lakh, which had been deducted from employees’ salaries, into their Provident Fund accounts.
The Regional PF Commissioner issued the arrest warrant on December 4, directing the Pulakeshinagar Police Station in East Bengaluru to carry out the order. However, the police encountered a significant complication: Uthappa, who previously resided at an apartment in Wheeler Road, Pulakeshinagar, has reportedly been living in Dubai for over a year.
When police visited Uthappa’s last known address, they were informed that he had vacated the property. Following this, the police returned the warrant to the PF office in KR Puram, stating that Uthappa no longer resides within their jurisdiction. A senior officer clarified that no FIR has been filed against Uthappa, as no formal complaint has been lodged by the PF office yet.
The issue stems from the non-remittance of PF dues, which is a violation of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. According to the PF office’s letter, Centaurus Lifestyle Brands Pvt Ltd has failed to remit the required PF contributions for its employees. This has left several workers without access to their PF accounts, prompting the PF office to issue the arrest warrant against Uthappa, who is named as the director of the firm.
In the letter, the PF office emphasized that this failure to remit PF dues, totaling Rs23,36,602, has affected the workers’ welfare and hindered the settlement of their PF accounts. The PF Commissioner has requested Uthappa’s arrest and his appearance before the authorities by December 27 for further legal proceedings.
In response, Uthappa has maintained that he was not directly involved in the company’s day-to-day operations, clarifying that his role was more limited to providing financial contributions in the form of loans. However, the authorities are still pursuing legal avenues in connection with this ongoing investigation.
This legal development marks a significant chapter in Uthappa’s post-cricket career, as he faces scrutiny over his role in the alleged financial misconduct linked to the company.