BENGALURU: The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) functioning under the Ministry of Labour and Employment of the Government of India has written a letter to the Bengaluru police seeking assistance in issuing an arrest warrant against former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa, sources confirmed on Saturday. According to the warrant, Uthappa has time till December 27 to pay the dues of Rs 23,36,602 or face arrest.
Shadakshara Gopal Reddy, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner - II and Recovery Officer, KR Puram in Bengaluru, stated in the warrant that Robin Uthappa is the Director of the M/s Centaurus Lifestyle Brands Pvt Ltd company located in Indiranagar of Bengaluru.
The company has failed to remit the damages under Sections 7A, 14B and 7 Q of the EPF and MP Act, 1952 to the tune of Rs 23.36 lakh.
Addressing the police Reddy further requested, “You are, therefore, kindly requested to execute the enclosed arrest warrant of arrest of Robin Uthappa.”
“Due to non-remittance of dues, this office is unable to settle the Provident Fund (PF) accounts of poor workers. In view of the above, you are kindly requested to execute the enclosed warrant of arrest," the letter sent by post to the Pulakeshinagar Station House Officer (SHO) read.
A senior police officer said that Uthappa is presently not residing in the address mentioned in the warrant for over a year.
"He is currently living in Dubai with his family. We have returned the warrant to the PF office in KR Puram, informing them that Uthappa is no longer within our jurisdiction,". The officer further added that no FIR has been registered against him yet.
(With inputs from agencies)