Court halts India’s infamous High Commission protest “attack” case
A UK Indian High Commission court case against a Sikh activist has been stayed by the presiding judge, two-years since the initial incident, which is linked to another Sikh activist’s alleged murder by India.
On 16th September 2025, proceedings brought against Gurcharan Singh at Southwark Crown Court concerning alleged attempted criminal damage to the Indian flag during a protest at its London High Commission building in March 2023 were stayed (meaning temporarily halted).
The ruling brings a long-running saga into its final chapter. The initial incident began with Indian media accusations of “violent terrorism” by British Sikhs, then triggered a major diplomatic fallout, and is linked to the poisoning of a Sikh activist who was the main person accused of desecrating the flag, despite not even being in attendance.
Gurcharan Singh (a noted UK activist part of the Dal Khalsa UK group) and two other Sikh activists (who will remain anonymous) currently face no charges regarding the accusations from an Indian High Commission rep. One activist was arrested on the day of the protest (19th March 2023) and the other was arrested later that year in August, whilst Gurcharan Singh was arrested even later that year, in October, at another protest outside the same Indian High Commission.
The initial incident occurred around midday on 19th March 2023, when Sikh protests broke out across the world after Indian authorities locked down parts of Punjab. Invasion by thousands of paramilitary groups and a communications shutdown were part of mass state action against critics of India in Punjab, which was mainly focused on targeting Bhai Amritpal Singh.
The situation became known as #PanjabUnderSiege. Bhai Amritpal Singh became subject of one of the largest manhunts in history during the period, only to turn himself in later. He remains a Sikh political prisoner since, but is now also an elected MP, having contested and won – voted in by 400,000 people – in last year’s India general election.
During the 19th March 2023 protest at India’s London High Commission (IHC), amongst dozens of protesters some criminal damage to the building allegedly occurred. However, it was video footage of a Sikh man – unidentifiable from footage – pulling down India’s tiranga (tri-colour; national flag) from the front of the building which sparked global Indian outrage. Footage of the incident was broadcasted worldwide by Indian media and Hindu nationalist social media users (including official government and army reps), all of which sensationalised the incident as “terrorism” and a “violent attack”.
In response to the Indian reaction, a viral take from Professor Andrew Macleod seemed to express wider sentiment, when the Australian geopolitical expert accused Indians of overreacting and being “petulant”, whilst speaking on the incident on a news panel show.
In what is in hindsight a completely sinister move, Indian media quickly blamed noted Sikh activist Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda for the incident, despite Khanda not being in attendance. Khanda was a respected figure of the Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) movement, demonised by Indian media and authorities even before the March 2023 incident. His false framing as the culprit of the overblown incident is cited as pre-emptive justification for his death, which was celebrated as an Indian State murder on social media before the news had even been confirmed in Sikh communities.
As well as the fallout targeting Sikh activists, the UK also faced diplomatic pressure after the incident. Firstly, the UK consulate head of Delhi was summoned to answer questions, whilst simultaneously security (in the form of basic gating) was removed from the UK Delhi High Commission building, with Indian media commentators openly saying it was retaliation for a perceived failure of the UK to protect India’s High Commission in London.
Weeks later, using the false framing against Khanda as justification, the mother of the Birmingham (Midlands) based activist was imprisoned in India for a period, in what was seen as an attempt to hurt and discourage Khanda’s activism.
Then, just a month later, Khanda succumbed to a very short and serious illness, passing away after a public claim that he would be “eliminated”, made by Hindu extremist India national security commentator Major Gaurav Arya.
Read more on the assassination of Khanda:
- Sikhs orgs demand “urgent investigation” into death of Bhai Avtar Singh | SikhPA
- “It’s possible we’re looking at Litvinenko part two”- Inquiry demanded for suspected poisoning of Sikh activist | SikhPA
At the time, Punjab and the Sikh diaspora communities seemed to be becoming more understanding of the Khalistan movement post the 2020 Farmers Protest stand against Narendra Modi’s Indian government, based on social sentiment and grassroots support for Khalistan orgs. In response, India’s demonisation of noted Sikh activists intensified, including toward Shaheed (martyr) Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar, killed soon after Khanda died, in Surrey (BC, Canada).
Even after the fallout around the assassinations of Sikh activists (which included the killing of Paramjit Singh Panjwar in Pakistan in May 2023), efforts to target the alleged perpetrators of the London High Commission “attack” continued, with India sending intelligence officers into the UK for further investigation in September 2023.
After reports of India’s NIA (National Investigation Agency) presence in the UK, Gurcharan Singh found himself under arrest weeks later for desecration of India’s flag in March 2023, whilst protesting at the same site. Despite Gurcharan Singh’s arrest and the fact he was officially named as the accused by Indian diplomats, there was no attempt to absolve Shaheed Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda, who was named in headlines across India regarding the incident.
Once the case against the protesters was underway, Sikh PA is aware that a diplomat even waived diplomatic immunity in order to participate in the case by giving witness statements.
Although the initial police charge related to damage to the India Consulate flag, later allegations from the Indian diplomat included:
– Gurcharan Singh broke bones in his hand, resulting him requiring surgery
– 12 windows were smashed and the VIP entrance door of the building, causing approximately £20,000 worth of criminal damage to the consulate building
Evidence for the alleged damage to the building was also presented through a receipt for a £13,000 payment from the consulate to a maintenance company.
Tellingly, no Indian media have yet covered the news of the case being dismissed, despite the mass coverage which occurred when the initial accusations began, after the 2023 March #PunjabUnderSiege protest.
Speaking on the current status of the case, Gurcharan Singh said “At this stage, there is no case to answer. I am pleased with this outcome. I thank everyone who has supported me through this.
“The Indian government has been unable to provide evidence as to the monetary value of the flag or the cost of any alleged damage. In the absence of such evidence, there is no basis for sustaining a criminal charge.
“It is clear that the case was an attempt to curtail the fundamental right of Sikhs to peacefully protest against the actions of the Indian state while in the United Kingdom. The right to protest is a cornerstone of democratic society and attempts to criminalise legitimate dissent undermine this principle.”
Gurcharan Singh remains involved in Sikh activism, and specifically standing against Hindutva tyranny and in support of the Khalistan movement.
NOTE- The Sikh Press Association is aware of further impact regarding the March 2023 protest and Indian accusations towards attendees. However, in respect of sangat (Sikh congregation) wishes, we will not be specifying other impacted parties.
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