Mumbai: Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa is facing arrest in connection with an alleged provident fund (PF) fraud case involving his company, Century Lifestyle Brand Private Limited. The arrest warrant was reportedly issued by the regional commissioner of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Shadakshari Gopal Reddy, following allegations that Uthappa deducted ₹23 lakh from employees’ salaries but failed to deposit their PF contributions.
According to reports, Uthappa’s company is accused of withholding the provident fund dues, leaving several workers’ PF accounts unsettled. The warrant was executed on December 4, but Uthappa could not be located at his residence in Pulakeshinagar, Karnataka, where the jurisdictional police had attempted to carry out the arrest. Officials have indicated that the warrant was returned after Uthappa was found to be residing in Dubai with his family.
The case centers around the alleged failure to remit provident fund contributions for employees, preventing the EPFO from settling the PF accounts of affected workers. Authorities have now directed the police to take action to arrest Uthappa and return the warrant by December 27.