New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa is currently facing legal issues over unpaid provident fund contributions related to his clothing brand, Centaurus Lifestyle Brands Pvt Ltd. The regional PF commissioner in Bengaluru, Shadakshara Gopala Reddy, has accused Uthappa of failing to pay a sum totaling Rs 23,36,602. This accusation has led the commissioner to request an arrest warrant for the former athlete.
In a formal complaint submitted to the Pulakeshinagar Police, Reddy claimed that Uthappa’s actions violate several sections of the Employees’ Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act of 1952. Dated December 4, the complaint seeks Uthappa’s arrest under specific legal clauses, including Rule 73 of the 2nd Schedule to the Income Tax Act and Section 8B of the EP & MP Act. Uthappa has been asked to appear before the regional PF commissioner by December 27.
However, complications have arisen as police reports state that the notice has been returned to Reddy since Uthappa no longer lives in the area governed by the Pulakeshinagar police station. He is currently living in Dubai, and the next course of action regarding the enforcement of the warrant will depend on the recovery officer’s judgment.
This isn’t Uthappa’s first brush with legal trouble. Back in October, a Mumbai sessions court temporarily paused legal action against his clothing line connected to a cheque bounce case from 2019, hinting that he may not be directly involved in the daily operations of the business. As this situation develops, it will be interesting to see how Uthappa chooses to respond to these serious allegations.
