Former cricketer Robin Uthappa
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has granted interim relief to former cricketer Robin Uthappa by staying the arrest warrant issued against him in a case related to alleged irregularities in Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) deposits. Justice Suraj Govindaraj, presiding over the vacation bench, issued the order after Uthappa filed a petition challenging the warrant and the related recovery notice.
Bengaluru Police had issued an arrest warrant on December 21 based on directions from the regional PF commissioner on December 4, seeking recovery of dues related to Uthappa’s former role as director at Centaurus Lifestyle Brands.
what is the whole matter
The allegations state that the company deducted PF contribution from the salaries of the employees, but failed to deposit the contribution, resulting in an outstanding of Rs 23.36 lakh. Uthappa served as a director of the company from 2018 until his resignation in May 2020. During the hearing, senior advocate Prabhuling Navadagi, appearing for Uthappa, argued that as per his agreement with the cricketer company’s founder Krishnadas Thandanand Hawde, his client was not involved in the day-to-day functioning of the company. Navadgi asserted that Uthappa cannot be held liable as an “employer” under the EPF Act.
Uthappa’s legal team further clarified that he had officially resigned from his directorship in 2020 and had informed the authorities about his departure. The lawyers emphasized that Uthappa had initiated legal proceedings against the company for non-payment of the loan given to him.
Uthappa’s statement
In a public statement Uthappa reiterated that his involvement with the company was purely financial and he had no role in its management or decision-making processes. The High Court’s interim order not only stayed the arrest warrant but also suspended further proceedings related to the case, providing temporary relief to the cricketer. The case is expected to be heard further in the coming weeks.
Input- PTI
Latest India News