Krunal Pandya and Hardik Pandya. (Photo Source: Twitter)
In a shocking turn of events, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya, the renowned Indian cricketers, have fallen victim to a financial scam perpetrated by their stepbrother, Vaibhav Pandya. The Mumbai police have arrested Vaibhav on charges of cheating and forgery, accusing him of cheating a staggering INR 4.3 crore from Hardik and his brother Krunal.
The incident reportedly occurred within the context of a joint business venture the three men had established around three years ago. Hardik and Krunal were to contribute 40% of the capital each, while Vaibhav was responsible for the remaining 20% as well as the day-to-day operations of the polymer trading firm.
However, the agreement was allegedly violated when Vaibhav set up a separate company in the same line of business without informing his stepbrothers. This led to a decline in profits from the original partnership, resulting in an estimated loss of INR 3 crore for the Pandya brothers.
To make matters worse, Vaibhav is also accused of secretly increasing his profit share from 20% to 33.3%, further ruining the financial interests of Hardik and Krunal.
Also read: Hardik, Krunal engage in soulful bhajan singing at Baroda residence
MI registered its first win under Hardik Pandya
The Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai police has now stepped in, charging Vaibhav Pandya with cheating and forgery in connection with these actions. The Pandya brothers, have yet to publicly comment on this unfortunate incident.
As Hardik and Krunal both are busy playing in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, this personal setback must be weighing heavily on their minds. Hardik, in particular, has had a challenging few months, having recovered from an ankle injury sustained during the 2023 World Cup.
Also read: ‘Strike rate badha aur wickets chatka’ – Young fan’s advice for Hardik Pandya amid tough times
His appointment as the captain of the Mumbai Indians franchise was also met with some opposition from the team’s loyal fan base, as he struggled to lead the team to victory in the first three matches. MI managed to register its first victory of the season by defeating Delhi Capitals in their last game.
On the other hand, Krunal who represents Lucknow Super Giants has so far scored 48 runs and picked three wickets in four matches.