THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
Harman Singh Kapoor, a Sikh entrepreneur of Indian origin who migrated to the UK and built his business from the ground up over roughly 26–30 years. He owned Rangrez, a well-known 125-seater Indian restaurant on Fulham Palace Road in Hammersmith, London, which had served the community for 16 years.
The Halal Controversy
Harman Singh Kapoor and his wife Khushi prominently stated that their restaurant is non-Halal, displaying the words “Proudly we don’t sell Halal” on the front window of the restaurant.
Kapoor attributed the backlash to his refusal to serve halal meat, stating that the majority of negative online reviews and pressure came from vocal critics in the Muslim community. His restaurant also received fake one-star reviews from people who, by his account, had never visited the establishment.
Targeting by Muslim Groups
On March 13–14, 2026, approximately 100 people gathered outside Rangrez, blocking the entrance to the restaurant. Kapoor stated the reason was his refusal to sell Halal food.
People posted footage online showing crowds chanting outside his restaurant, and there were allegations of death and rape threats being issued against him and his wife.
Both Pakistanis and Khalistanis are accused of breaking his car’s windshields multiple times, disrupting customers by shouting outside the restaurant, and issuing rape threats to his wife and daughter. Kapoor claims he lost nearly two million pounds in his restaurant business due to these sustained attacks.
Targeting by Khalistani Groups
Kapoor has long positioned himself as a vocal critic of Khalistani extremism. In March 2023, he claimed his restaurant came under attack after he posted videos mocking Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh.
Alleged Khalistanis with concealed weapons pounded on Rangrez’s glass doors, shouting Punjabi slurs while customers cowered inside, prompting a temporary shutdown of the restaurant. These attacks intensified during a period of heightened India-UK tensions over Khalistani extremism.
In 2023, he also claimed his car was shot at and vandalised after he criticised the Khalistan movement.
Restaurant Closure Announcement
Kapoor announced the closure of Rangrez, citing “rising costs, ongoing online harassment, repeated disturbances and attacks by Pakistanis, and a lack of proper support from the Met Police.” He declared his intention to shift to full-time activism, saying he wanted to dedicate himself to fighting radicalism rather than joining a political party.
Rangrez was actually his second restaurant to shut — another branch in Ealing had previously been closed after being similarly targeted.
His Arrest
On March 14, 2026, Kapoor posted a video in which he displayed his kirpan (a Sikh dagger) while speaking about protecting his family, stating he no longer trusted the Met Police to keep him safe. He was subsequently arrested from his restaurant, though the exact charges were not made public. He was released hours later.
After his release, Kapoor wrote: “All I did was protect my family, yet I was the one arrested. Instead of protecting us, the police targeted my religion — my Sikh faith and my beliefs. This is deeply troubling.”
Broader Controversy
The incident ignited passionate debate online — supporters labelled Kapoor a victim of intimidation based on his religious convictions, while critics argued that his inflammatory social media statements and provocative language contributed to rising community tensions.
His case has become a focal point for wider discussions about the safety of Indian nationals and people of Indian origin (PIOs) in the UK, and whether British authorities give adequate protection to minority communities facing targeted harassment.
References
1.https://news.ssbcrack.com/indian-origin-restaurateur-claims-arrest-following-controversy-over-halal-meat-and-restaurant-closure/
2.https://theprint.in/feature/london-restaurateur-rid-uk-radicals-pakistanis-khalistanis/2863833/
3.https://www.opindia.com/news-updates/harman-singh-kapoor-sikh-restaurant-owner-arrested-london-speaking-self-defence-target-islamists-khalistanis/
4.https://www.desiblitz.com/content/crowd-surrounds-london-restaurant-over-refusal-to-sell-halal-food
5.https://www.newsx.com/world/who-is-harman-singh-kapoor-indian-origin-restaurateur-arrested-after-refusing-to-serve-halal-meat-at-his-rangrez-restaurant-amid-protests-in-london-183031/
6.https://youtu.be/8U7oVcAoGng?si=LskXMUrnTUQxMkAp
7.https://youtube.com/shorts/Q1Tuop8IBH8?si=TezI53F1lDWILYPN
