Gangtok: The Sikkim police have arrested Noel Sharma, associated with the Gorkha Seva Sena, for allegedly misusing the official state emblem on an invitation card for a politically sensitive event. Sharma’s arrest follows that of Subash Mani Singh from Kalimpong and Bikramadi Rai from Darjeeling, who were also implicated in the case.
The three individuals are accused of unauthorised use of the Sikkim government emblem, which was officially released in September 2024 to mark the 50th anniversary of Sikkim’s statehood. The emblem is reserved for official use only, and its misuse on the invitation card for the “Constitutional Legality of Darjeeling-Sikkim Unification” event is alleged to have the potential to stir public unrest.
The controversy deepened when Subash Mani Singh appeared at an RTI appeal hearing in Gangtok and later held a press conference, allegedly misrepresenting the hearing as a formal discussion with the Home Department. Officials claim that this act was an attempt to mislead the public and stoke tensions between communities in Sikkim and Darjeeling.
The Sikkim Police are continuing to investigate the case, emphasising the importance of safeguarding state symbols and preventing the spread of misinformation that could threaten public harmony.
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