Darjeeling-based Gorkha Seva Sena member arrested over Sikkim emblem misuse case

The Sikkim Police have arrested Subash Mani Singh, a member of the Darjeeling-based Gorkha Seva Sena, from Kalimpong, following an FIR lodged by the state’s Home Department against three members of the organization. The FIR accuses the individuals of unauthorized use of the official government emblem and spreading misinformation that could disrupt public order.

The three accused—Noel Sharma, Bikramadi Rai, and Subash Mani Singh—are alleged to have misused the state emblem of Sikkim on an invitation card for a politically charged event titled “Constitutional Legality of Darjeeling-Sikkim Unification.” The emblem in question was officially released in September 2024 to commemorate 50 years of Sikkim’s statehood and is reserved strictly for authorized governmental use.

According to the Home Department, the emblem’s unauthorized use was a calculated move to falsely associate the Government of Sikkim with a sensitive political issue. The state government has clarified that it had no involvement in or endorsement of the event.

Further controversy ensued when Subash Mani Singh attended an RTI appeal hearing in Gangtok on June 4, 2025, after which he held a press conference. During the briefing, Singh allegedly misrepresented the nature of the hearing, portraying it as a formal consultation with the Home Department regarding the Gorkha Seva Sena’s objectives. Authorities assert that this misrepresentation was aimed at misleading the public and could potentially provoke unrest between communities in Sikkim and Darjeeling.

The FIR has been registered under several stringent provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including:

Section 152 (acts endangering the sovereignty and integrity of India),

Section 196 (promoting enmity between different groups), and

Section 336 (forgery with intent to harm reputation or mislead).

Additionally, the case involves violations of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, due to the unauthorized use of a protected state symbol.

The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) has expressed strong support for the government’s action, describing it as a vital measure to preserve the sanctity of the state’s official identity and prevent communal discord. Party leaders called upon citizens to remain vigilant against divisive elements and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining unity, peace, and mutual respect among all communities.