SpiceJet PF dues: FIR against SpiceJet's Ajay Singh and board members comes to light

The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police had on September 16 filed a case against SpiceJet’s Managing Director Ajay Singh and top officials for allegations of cheating and criminal conspiracy related to provident fund (PF) dues. This follows a complaint by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), claiming that the airline failed to remit over Rs 65.7 crore in PF contributions.

The FIR, lodged on September 16 in Delhi, named individuals including Ajay Singh, Shiwani Singh (Director), Anurag Bhargava (Independent Director), Ajay Chhotelal Aggarwal, and Manoj Kumar. According to the FIR, SpiceJet employs more than 10,000 workers and deducted 12 percent of employees' salaries for PF from June 2022 to July 2024. However, the deducted amount was not credited to the employees' PF accounts within the mandatory 15-day period.

However, a SpiceJet spokesperson clarified that the case was filed before the airline raised Rs 3,000 crore via Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) and it has since then cleared all pending salary and GST dues. SpiceJet has made significant progress by depositing ten months of PF dues, the spokesperson said.


"The process of clearing the remaining dues is ongoing. Additionally, we have successfully reached settlements with multiple lessors. SpiceJet remains fully aligned with the financial and operational strategy outlined in the QIP," the spokesperson added.

On Oct 4, SpiceJet had said it has deposited 10 months’ worth of PF dues. The airline also stated it cleared all pending Goods and Services Tax (GST) payments and salary arrears after raising Rs 3,000 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP). "SpiceJet is pleased to announce that within the first week of raising fresh funds through the Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP), the airline has cleared all pending salary and GST dues and has made significant progress by depositing ten months of PF dues, and the process of clearing other outstanding dues ongoing," said a spokesperson.

The FIR said that the employer acts as a trustee for employees' PF contributions and is required to remit them to the EPFO on time.