Hardik Pandya, along with his brother Krunal Pandya, is facing a familial challenge as Mumbai Police arrested their step-brother, Vaibhav Pandya.?
Allegations suggest that Vaibhav misappropriated funds totalling around Rs 4.3 crore from their joint business venture established in 2021,?resulting in a significant financial setback for the cricketing siblings.?The partnership arrangement had earmarked 40% of the profits for both Hardik and Krunal, with Vaibhav entitled to 20%.
However, instead of adhering to the agreement, Vaibhav purportedly established a separate company and siphoned off funds from the original business. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai police has formally charged Vaibhav with cheating and forgery. The arrest was made subsequent to a complaint filed by Hardik against the 37-year-old.
According to early media reports,?it was thought that Vaibhav was their cousin, but now it's said he's their stepbrother.?
He was close to Krunal's and Hardik's late father, Himanshu Pandya, even calling him 'Papa'. Vaibhav has an older brother named Gaurav Pandya. It's said that despite being stepbrothers, Vaibhav and Hardik shared a strong bond. Hardik even considers him like his own brother, treating him with care.??
Meanwhile, Hardik has found himself in the spotlight following his appointment as captain of the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024 season, replacing Rohit Sharma. However, the decision to remove Rohit from the captaincy role has not been well-received by fans. Consequently, Hardik has faced criticism from some quarters.
The start of Hardik's tenure as captain saw Mumbai Indians suffer defeats in their initial three matches, leading to apprehensions among players and supporters alike. However, the team managed to secure their first victory of the campaign against the Delhi Capitals, providing relief to Hardik.?
In the post-match presentation ceremony, Hardik acknowledged the challenges faced, stating, "It was a lot of hard work. We cleared a lot of minds, made sure our plans are right, the intent is right, and today was one of the days where everything clicked. There has been a lot of love and care going around. Everyone knows we lost three games, but the belief and attitude of backing each other was there, which has been fantastic. We needed just one win, and today is just the start."
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