Ex Cricketer Robin Uthappa Faces Arrest Warrant For Alleged Provident Fund Fraud
New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa hit headlines on Saturday when news reports said that an arrest warrant has been issued against him in relation to an alleged Provident Fund (PF) fraud case. Uthappa represented India in numerous domestic and international cricket matches. He made his ODI debut in 2006 and has since competed in all formats of the game.
The Karnataka Police recently visited Uthappa’s registered address in Bengaluru to serve him a notice, but were unable to locate the cricketer at the property. As per reports, he has since relocated, leading to the issuance of a warrant for his arrest. He has time till December 27 to pay the dues of nearly ₹ 24 lakh, or face arrest.
Regional PF Commissioner II & Recovery Officer, Shadakshara Gopala Reddy, directed the Pulakeshinagar police station in East Bengaluru to execute the arrest warrant against Uthappa, dated December 4.
Uthappa is the director of Bengaluru-based Centaurus Lifestyle Brands Pvt Ltd. The company failed to remit the damages of about ₹ 23,36,602, which is to be recovered from the former Team India player, said Regional PF Commissioner Sadakshari Gopal Reddy in the arrest warrant issued on December 4.
Uthappa has played 59 international matches for India and has been a popular player in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has scored a total of 1,183 runs and has seven half-centuries to his name in international cricket.
What Police Said
The police have returned the warrant to the PF office in KR Puram, informing them that Uthappa is no longer within their jurisdiction. A senior officer clarified to TOI that no FIR has been registered against Uthappa as no formal complaint has been received.
"We received the letter from the PF office a week ago, requesting the execution of the arrest warrant. Uthappa previously lived in an apartment on Wheeler Road in Pulakeshinagar. Our staff visited the address and learned that he vacated the property a year ago and now resides in Dubai. We have communicated this to the PF office," the officer said.
Where's Robin Uthappa?
Robin Uthappa, the Bengaluru cricketer known as the “Walking Assassin” for his aggressive batting, moved to Dubai with his family over a year ago.
Speaking to Gulf News in an interview last year, Robin Uthappa said, “We were quite familiar with Dubai as we had been visiting often over the years. We came here during the 2022 Christmas vacation too, and rang in the New Year. Shheethal had just delivered our daughter after a difficult pregnancy. She was still going through a bad patch, and we thought the trip would do her good.”
What's the Case Against Robin Uthappa?
Robin Uthappa is accused of defrauding employees and the government in his role as the director of Centaurus Lifestyle Brands Private Limited. Here are the key details of the case:
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Non-Remittance of PF Contributions: Uthappa’s company Centaurus Lifestyle Brands Private Limited is accused of deducting Provident Fund (PF) contributions from employees' salaries and failing to deposit the funds into their PF accounts.
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Damages Sought: The company allegedly owes ₹23.36 lakh in damages, including ₹6,550 towards recovery, as a result of the non-payment of PF dues.
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Legal Action: On December 4, 2024, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner Shadakshiri Gopala Reddy issued a letter to Pulakeshi Nagar Police, instructing them to arrest Uthappa for failing to remit the funds under sections 7A, 14B, and 7Q of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.
Details Of The Arrest Warrant
"This is to inform you that T.K. Krishna Das, director of M/S Centaurus Lifestyle Brands Pvt Ltd, located at HAL Second Stage in Indiranagar, has failed to remit damages under sections 7A, 14B, and 7Q of the Employees’ Provident Funds (EPF) and Miscellaneous Provisions (MP) Act, 1952. The outstanding amount is Rs 23,36,602, including Rs 6,550 towards recovery," the statement reads.
"You are kindly requested to execute the enclosed warrant of arrest for Robin Uthappa, director of the establishment, through the station in charge under whose jurisdiction the employer resides."
The letter emphasises the importance of the EPF and MP Act as social welfare legislation designed to protect low-income workers.
"Due to non-remittance of dues, this office is unable to settle the PF accounts of poor workers. In view of the above, you are kindly requested to execute the enclosed warrant of arrest through the station in charge under whose jurisdiction Uthappa resides."
The letter further cites Rule 73 of the Second Schedule of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and Section 8B of the EPF and MP Act, requesting Uthappa's arrest and his production before the undersigned on or before December 27 for further proceedings.
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