EPF criminal complaint against Una food company over KYC paperwork quashed
The Provident Fund inspector filed a criminal complaint against a private food-manufacturing employer in Una for not furnishing bank-account and KYC details of members. A magistrate issued summons in the case. The High Court held that missing an administrative direction is not punishable under the EPF Scheme and quashed the complaint.
This page records what the cited court, tribunal and government records say happened. Findings belong to the court or authority that made them; this register adds none of its own. Names of private individuals are withheld unless a naming gate clears them.
How we verify →The criminal complaint stands quashed by the High Court's judgment dated 23.06.2025.
What happened
The High Court recorded that the employer was accused of ignoring instructions dated 17.09.2014 issued under Para 78 to furnish bank-account, UAN and KYC particulars of members, and that the complaint invoked Para 76 of the EPF Scheme, which carries custody up to one year and/or a monetary sanction.
The High Court recorded the employer's plea that all provident fund contributions had already been remitted and that KYC linkage arose only later, so no dues of workers were unpaid.
The High Court held that non-observance of an administrative direction falls outside Para 76(d), which punishes only breach of a scheme requirement, and allowed the petition.
The High Court's order states that the trial court had ordered issuance of summons against the accused, and the final direction quashed Complaint No. 09/2015 pending before the magistrate at Una.
What the record says
“The learned Trial Court ordered the issuance of the summons against the accused.”
Cr. MMO No. 498 of 2018, judgment text — read the full text
A peaceful economic act
The employer's contributions were paid and no worker lost money; the prosecution punished a paperwork lapse in staffing administration, an act with no victim.
What we could not confirm
No news report of this case could be opened to add detail; the exact factory address beyond Una district could not be confirmed.