Nirpal Singh Riat lost the honour following a £300,000 fine over illegally converted properties in west London; he disputes some allegations and is considering a judicial review
British Indian property developer Nirpal Singh Riat has been stripped of his Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) honour after a housing offences case involving illegally converted properties and poor living conditions in west London.
The UK Cabinet Office confirmed that Riat’s conduct had brought the honours system into disrepute. The decision to revoke the award was taken this month, according to a report by The Times of India.
Riat received the OBE in 2011 from the late Queen Elizabeth II for his services to charity and the Punjabi community.
The action follows a prosecution by Hounslow Council in 2023 concerning 22 properties managed by Riat. The council alleged that tenants had been living in unacceptable conditions and accused him of converting a property into flats without the required permissions and renting out an unauthorised outbuilding.
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A court imposed a fine of £300,000 on Riat following the case
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The alleged housing problems formed the basis of the council’s campaign to have his honour withdrawn
Hounslow Council’s deputy leader, Tom Bruce, welcomed the decision, saying it sent a clear message that landlords who profit from unacceptable living conditions would be held accountable.
Riat, however, has disputed some of the allegations, describing them as fabricated, according to the newspaper. He said his lawyer had written to the honours forfeiture committee challenging the claims but had received no response.
He also indicated that he was considering seeking a judicial review of the decision, raising concerns about the fairness and transparency of the honours forfeiture process.
The case follows the withdrawal of honours from two other British Indians in 2024: Anil Bhanot, managing director of the Hindu Council UK, and businessman and former Conservative peer Rami Ranger.
Earlier this month, Ranger secured permission to challenge the decision to strip him of his Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) through a judicial review.
The developments have brought renewed attention to the process through which the British authorities can withdraw national honours when recipients are considered to have brought the system into disrepute.
