An arrest warrant has been issued against former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa over allegations of Provident Fund (PF) fraud. The warrant, issued by PF Regional Commissioner Shadakshari Gopal Reddy, directs the Pulakeshinagar police to take appropriate action.
Uthappa, who managed a private firm called Centuries Lifestyle Brand Private Limited, is accused of deducting PF contributions from employees’ salaries but failing to deposit the amounts, leading to an alleged fraud of Rs 23 lakh.
In a letter dated December 4, Commissioner Reddy instructed the police to execute the warrant. However, the warrant was returned to the PF office as Uthappa is reportedly no longer residing at his previous address. The officials stated, “The warrant, issued on December 4, has been returned after Mr. Uthappa was found not to be at the Pulakeshinagar residence.”
The former Indian opening batsman and his family are reportedly living in Dubai.
The warrant noted that the failure to remit the dues has prevented the PF office from settling the accounts of the affected workers. It directed the police to arrest Robin Uthappa and return the warrant by December 27. Uthappa, who represented India in 59 international matches, was a prominent player in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Over his cricket career, he scored 1,183 runs in 54 ODI innings, including seven half-centuries.
In the IPL, Uthappa played for teams such as Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Mumbai Indians. He was part of KKR’s winning squad in 2014 and was known for his aggressive batting style.
Authorities are now working to trace Uthappa’s whereabouts to proceed with the investigation and ensure legal compliance.
