Mumbai police have apprehended Vaibhav Pandya, the lesser-known stepbrother of renowned cricketers Hardik and Krunal Pandya, on charges of allegedly defrauding them of approximately Rs 4 crore in a business venture.

37-year-old Vaibhav is accused of diverting around Rs 4.3 crore from their partnership firm, resulting in financial losses for Hardik and Krunal Pandya. Officials from the Economic Offences Wing of Mumbai Police confirmed that Vaibhav has been charged with cheating and forgery.

The report states that the trio had established a polymer business in 2021, with the terms of the partnership indicating that Hardik and Krunal invested 40 per cent of the capital each, while Vaibhav contributed 20 per cent. However, Vaibhav purportedly proceeded to establish another firm in the same trade without informing his stepbrothers, thus violating the agreed-upon terms of their business arrangement.