Bengaluru: Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa is facing an arrest warrant for alleged fraud involving provident fund contributions at Centaurus Lifestyle Brands Pvt Ltd, a clothing company he oversees. Uthappa, who serves as the director of the Bengaluru-based company, has been given until December 27 to settle outstanding dues of approximately Rs 24 lakh. Failure to comply will lead to his arrest, as per reports.
The arrest warrant was issued on December 4 by Regional Provident Fund Commissioner Sadakshari Gopal Reddy. It accuses the 39-year-old Uthappa of deducting provident fund contributions from his employees’ salaries but failing to deposit these amounts into their accounts. The company owes a total of Rs 23,36,602 in unpaid dues, which the authorities are seeking to recover from Uthappa.
The official notice emphasized the serious consequences of the non-payment, highlighting the difficulties faced by employees due to the failure to remit their provident fund dues, preventing the settlement of their accounts. The notice also directs the police to arrest Uthappa if the dues remain unpaid by the specified deadline.
Uthappa, known for his role in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup-winning squad, had a successful international cricket career, playing 59 matches for India. He scored 1,183 runs in 54 One-Day International innings, including seven half-centuries. The cricketer also enjoyed a notable IPL career, playing for several top franchises and earning recognition as a reliable player.
