Karnataka HC stays arrest warrant against Robin Uthappa in PF fraud case
Bengaluru, Dec 31: The Karnataka High Court granted interim relief to former cricketer Robin Uthappa on Tuesday by temporarily staying an arrest warrant issued against him in a Provident Fund (PF) fraud case.
Justice Suraj Govindaraj, presiding over a vacation bench, also suspended related proceedings in response to Uthappa's petition to quash recovery notices and the arrest warrant.
The Bengaluru police issued the arrest warrant on December 21 based on directives from the Regional PF Commissioner on December 4, which demanded the recovery of dues associated with Uthappa's former role as a director at Centaurus Lifestyle Brands.
The allegations state that the company deducted PF contributions from employee salaries but failed to deposit those contributions, resulting in Rs 23.36 lakh in unpaid dues. Uthappa served as a director from 2018 until his resignation in May 2020.
During the hearing, senior advocate Prabhuling Navadgi, representing Uthappa, argued that the cricketer was not involved in the company's day-to-day operations, in accordance with his agreement with the company's founder, Krishnadas Thandanand Havade.
Navadgi asserted that Uthappa cannot be held accountable as an "employer" under the Employees' Provident Funds (EPF) Act.
Uthappa's legal team, which includes advocates Chintan Chinappa, Sushant Belvet, and Venkatesh Kamath, also emphasised that he had notified the authorities of his resignation and his lack of involvement in the company's operations.
The court has granted interim protection, and further proceedings are awaited.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
ALSO READ: Mexico's Congress approves higher tariffs on goods from India, China and non-FTA nations
Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
ALSO READ: Search operation ends in Anjaw truck accident, 20 bodies recovered
Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
