Darjeeling: Owner of Longview Tea Estate held in EPFO case

Amitava Banerjee, MP, Darjeeling, July 27, 2026: Govind Garg, the owner of Longview Tea Estate in the Kurseong sub-division of Darjeeling district, has been arrested in connection with a complaint lodged by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) against him. He has been remanded to five days of police custody.

Youths, students, along with tea garden workers, launched a long march from Darjeeling to Longview Tea Estate, covering around 50 km, as the relay hunger strike by the tea garden workers hit the 94-day mark.

The hunger strike is in protest against the management's failure to pay statutory dues, including Provident Fund (Rs 12 crore), gratuity (around Rs 84 lakh), leave travel allowance (Rs 19 lakh), arrears (Rs 16 lakh), outstanding wages and other dues.

The garden is under Siri Longview Tea and Agro Limited, with Garg as the owner.

“Based on a complaint filed by the EPFO officer against the company on July 22 at the Garidhura police outpost under the Kurseong police station, Govind Garg was arrested from Kolkata on Saturday. He was produced at the ACJM Court on Sunday. The police prayed for seven days' remand but was granted five days by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate,” Saroj Sinha, Assistant Public Prosecutor, Kurseong, told Millennium Post.

The FIR was lodged by the EPFO following a complaint lodged by the Hill Plantations Employees Union (HPEU).

The EPFO police complaint states that since the establishment has deducted employees’ provident fund contributions but has failed to deposit the same within the prescribed time, a complaint/FIR has been lodged against the responsible persons of the establishment for taking action as per applicable sections.

Garg has been charged under Sections 316 (2), 316 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with other sections, Sinha said. The sections deal with criminal breach of trust.

Meanwhile, a long march was launched from Darjeeling by youths, students and tea garden workers “in solidarity” with the relay hunger strike launched by Longview workers.

“We have taken part in this march in support of the tea garden workers. The march will halt in Kurseong on Sunday night and continue for Longview on Monday morning. Our agitation will continue till the workers get their rightful dues,” stated Semika Lama.

Courtesy and Source: Millennium Post