The U.K. government has announced sanctions against a British Sikh businessman and a group associated with him in the first use of the country’s ‘Domestic Counter-Terrorism Regime’ to disrupt funding for the pro-Khalistan militant group Babbar Khalsa.

Gurpreet Singh Rehal, linked with the Panjab Warriors sports investment firm, faces an asset freeze and director disqualification as he is suspected of belonging to organisations involved in terrorism in India, the U.K.’s Treasury department said on Thursday (December 4, 2025).

Alongside, it also announced an asset freeze against “Babbar Akali Lehar” for promoting and supporting the same terrorist group.

“We will not stand by while terrorists exploit Britain’s financial system,” said Lucy Rigby, Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

“This landmark action shows we are prepared to use every tool at our disposal to choke off funding for terrorism – wherever it occurs and whoever is responsible. The U.K. stands firmly with peaceful communities against those who promote violence and hatred,” she said.

His Majesty’s (HM) Treasury said it assesses Rehal to be involved in Babbar Khalsa and Babbar Akali Lehar’s terrorist activities, including promoting and encouraging, carrying out recruitment activities for, providing financial services to, as well as supporting and assisting those organisations, including through purchasing weapons and other military material.

“HM Treasury also assesses that Babbar Akali Lehar is associated with, and involved in, Babbar Khalsa’s terrorist activities by promoting and encouraging and carrying out recruitment activities for the group and itself,” the department states.

Under this week’s crackdown, all funds and economic resources in the U.K. owned, held or controlled by Rehal or Babbar Akali Lehar are now subject to an asset freeze. These designations will prevent all U.K. persons and entities from dealing with any funds or economic resources owned, held or controlled by either Rehal or Babbar Akali Lehar; or making funds, economic resources and financial services available to or for their benefit. This includes any of the entities they own or control, without a licence from HM Treasury or an applicable exception.

“Rehal is also subject to director disqualification sanctions which prohibit him from acting as a director of a company or directly or indirectly taking part in or being concerned in the promotion, formation or management of a company,” the Treasury said.

This week’s action is said to be the result of close collaboration between the Treasury and policing partners, as part of what the British government said is its determination to protect both national security and the peaceful communities affected by terrorism.

Under the Counter-Terrorism (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, HM Treasury can freeze assets and impose restrictions on individuals and entities suspected of involvement in terrorism. This helps prevent terrorist financing and protects the U.K.’s financial system from abuse.

Violations of sanctions imposed under this law come with penalties of up to seven years’ imprisonment on indictment, or civil penalties of up to 1 million pounds or 50% of the breach value — whichever is greater.

The Treasury noted that Babbar Khalsa, which also uses the name Babbar Khalsa International, is a proscribed terrorist organisation and its assessment views Babbar Akali Lehar to be an “involved person” under the regulations.

The sanctions against Rehal extend to organisations owned by him, namely: Saving Punjab, Whitehawk Consultations Ltd and unincorporated organisation/association Loha Designs.

Panjab Warriors, a London-based global sports investment firm, in June completed the purchase of Morecambe Football Club (FC) in Lancashire, north-west England.

“This is more than a business venture; it’s a commitment to the fans, the town, and the future of Morecambe FC,” Gurpreet Singh Rehal said on behalf of Panjab Warriors at the time.

Morecambe FC and Panjab Warriors issued a joint statement soon after the government’s sanctions announcement on Thursday to claim that Rehal held a “consultancy role” and is no longer affiliated with either organisation.

“Following recent serious concerns that have come to light, we took immediate and decisive action, and his association with both organisations has been fully removed,” the statement read.

“Both organisations operate under strict governance and compliance standards, and we have used this moment to further strengthen our internal processes, including enhanced due diligence checks for key personnel. We will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities and in full alignment with all regulatory requirements,” it added.

Published – December 06, 2025 12:35 pm IST

New Delhi:

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against two operatives of  Terror Outfi Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in connection with the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Prabhakar, also known as Vikas Bagga, in Punjab.

The chargesheeted individuals are Dharminder Kumar, alias Kunal, and Harwinder Kumar, alias Sonu, who is currently on the run and based in Dubai.

They face charges under multiple sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P) Act), the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the Arms Act.

VHP leader Vikas Bagga was shot dead in April last year by terrorists associated with the BKI module. He was murdered at his confectionery shop in Nangal, Roopnagar district of Punjab.

According to information, the killing was part of a larger conspiracy hatched by BKI operatives from several countries, including Pakistan under the guidance of BKI leader Wadhawa Singh Babbar. The plot was further managed by Germany-based Harjit Singh, alias Laddi, and Kulbeer Singh, alias Sidhu.

The agency took over the investigation from the Punjab Police on May 9 this year. The NIA had previously chargesheeted several other key figures involved in the case. These individuals included Laddi, Sidhu, Wadhawa Singh, and shooters Mandeep Kumar, alias Mangli, and Surinder Kumar, alias Rikka.

The probe has revealed that Laddi and Sidhu played a significant role in recruiting operatives for their terror group, providing them with logistical support, funding, and weapons for executing the murder.

Harwinder Kumar, alias Sonu, a resident of Nawanshahr, Punjab, is accused of transferring funds to India and arranging the weapons used in the attack. Sonu, along with Laddi and Sidhu, funded Dharminder Kumar, alias Kunal, who sourced the weapons from a supplier in Madhya Pradesh.

The NIA probe has also uncovered the involvement of a weapons dealer and other foreign-based associates in the plot. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities working to arrest the on the run suspects and uncover the full scope of the conspiracy.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Narain Singh Chaura, the man who allegedly has links to the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa, was arrested for opening fire at former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal this morning. He tried to attack Mr Badal while he was serving his penance at the entrance of the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Sukhbir Singh Badal escaped unhurt as Chaura was overpowered by people present on the spot.

The incident occurred around 9 am shortly after Mr Badal, who was in a wheelchair, had taken the ‘sewadar’s’ place at the gate of the Golden Temple.

Visuals from the spot show Chaura slowly approaching the gate and then taking a gun out of his pocket. A man standing near Mr Badal quickly spotted him and held his hands.

#WATCH | Punjab: Bullets fired at Golden Temple premises in Amritsar where SAD leaders, including party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, are offering ‘seva’ under the religious punishments pronounced for them by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, on 2nd December.

Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/CFQaoiqLkx

— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2024

The gun goes off but narrowly misses Mr Badal and others near him and hits the wall.

Who Is Narain Singh Chaura

Narain Singh Chaura is a resident of a village called Chaura in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district, some 60 kilometres from Golden Temple.

He was born on April 4, 1956, to Chanam Singh and Gurnam Kaur.

According to sources in the security establishment, Chaura is associated with the banned pro-Khalistan group Babbar Khalsa or Babbar Khalsa International.

The 68-year-old is also considered the mastermind of Chandigarh’s 2004 Burail jailbreak case in which four inmates escaped prison after digging a 104-foot tunnel. These four prisoners were Babbar Khalsa chief Jagtar Singh Hawara, former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassins Paramjit Singh Bheora and Jagtar Singh Tara and a murder convict Devi Singh.

Chaura was arrested in 2013 in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. He was released on bail five years later.

Sukhbir Singh Badal Serving Punishment At Golden Temple

Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday started his penance by serving the religious punishment given to him by the highest temporal body of Sikhs in a sacrilege case.

The Akali Dal chief sat in a wheelchair at the entrance of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, wearing a plaque around his neck and holding a spear, visuals showed.

Mr Badal has been sentenced by the Akal Takht to perform as a ‘sewadar’ and given clean duty in the kitchen and toilet at several gurdwaras, including the Golden Temple, for favouring Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in the 2015 sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib.