The Provident Fund (PF) Office has taken major action against the owners of Jaipur Tea Garden in Jalpaiguri. An FIR has been filed with the Kotwali Police Station on the charge of not properly depositing the money due to the workers. According to sources from the Jalpaiguri Regional Provident Fund Office, the owner of the tea garden, Messrs. Jaipur Tea Estate, has been deducting money from the salaries of 292 workers for a long time but has not deposited it in the PF account.

Embezzlement of Rs. 77 lakh, legal action
According to the complaint, the tea garden authorities deducted Rs. 77 lakh 34 thousand 838 from the salaries of the workers but have not deposited that money. The PF Office considers this to be a direct violation of the rights of the workers. In view of this irregularity, a case has been registered against the two directors of Jaipur Tea Garden under sections 34/406/420 of the Indian Penal Code.

The situation is similar in other tea gardens
Not only Jaipur tea gardens, but four more tea gardens in Jalpaiguri district have come to the notice of the PF department. In these gardens too, workers have outstanding PF money. Jalpaiguri Regional PF Commissioner Pawan Kumar Bansal said, “We are taking strict steps to protect the interests of the workers. Legal action will be taken against those who are embezzling PF money.”

Administration, owner’s silence in the investigation
Kotwali police station police have already started the investigation and collected the documents of the PF department. According to the law, if found guilty, the accused can be jailed for up to 6 months. Meanwhile, a total of 30 tea gardens in Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar have been booked and the bank accounts of 50 tea gardens have been sealed.

Jalpaiguri Superintendent of Police Umesh Khandbahale told the media, “The Jaipur tea garden authorities have not deposited the PF of the workers. We are investigating the matter.” However, the tea garden owners’ association ITPA has said that they are yet to know anything about this.

The administration’s strict stance against depriving workers has created tension in the tea industry. PF department officials have hinted that stricter steps may be taken to stop such irregularities in the future.