Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday stayed the arrest warrant issued against former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa in connection with alleged fraud related to Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) deposits.
The vacation bench of the High Court headed by Justice Suraj Govindraj stayed the arrest warrant and recovery notice issued by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner against the former cricketer. The court also adjourned the hearing of the case after issuing a notice to the PF commissioner to file objections.
Uthappa, as a director of Centaurus Lifestyle Brands Private Limited, is accused of defrauding employees and the government by not depositing the PF contributions into the company's employees' accounts despite deducting them from their salaries. The amount adds up to Rs 23 lakhs.
Uthappa's advocate argued before the court that since the former cricketer resigned as co-partner of the company in 2020, he cannot be made part of the alleged fraud. Therefore, the arrest warrant and the recovery notice issued against him should be quashed. Following this, the court stayed the arrest warrant.
An arrest warrant was issued against Uthappa last week after the Regional PF Commissioner Shadakshara Gopal Reddy wrote to Pulakeshinagar Police Station in Bengaluru to execute the warrant of arrest.
