Indian-origin restaurateur Harman Singh Kapoor has claimed that he was arrested by police days after announcing that he was shutting down his 16-year-old restaurant Rangrez in the UK, citing threats and harassment following his refusal to serve halal meat.Kapoor made the claim in a post on social media platform X, saying he had been detained after trying to protect his family during tensions surrounding the restaurant. As of now, UK police have not publicly confirmed the arrest or announced any charges.
“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,” Kapoor wrote in response to a post discussing the incident.Dispute over halal meatThe controversy began after Kapoor announced that he was closing Rangrez, a restaurant on Fulham Palace Road that had been operating for around 16 years.Kapoor alleged that the restaurant had faced harassment for years because he chose not to serve halal meat, instead offering jhatka meat, which is permitted in Sikh dietary tradition. According to him, negative reviews and online pressure intensified after he publicly reiterated that the restaurant would not sell halal meat.He said that the backlash, which he attributed largely to Muslim critics online, ultimately contributed to his decision to shut down the establishment. Kapoor has also said he intends to focus on activism after closing the restaurant.Controversial social media remarksThe issue drew further attention after Kapoor posted a series of inflammatory tweets criticising halal practices and the people he said were targeting his business. In those posts, he used derogatory language while stating that his restaurant would not serve halal meat and calling for halal slaughter to be banned in the UK.The posts triggered criticism online, with several social media users accusing him of using divisive rhetoric and escalating tensions around the issue.Activism and past claimsKapoor describes himself as a Sikh activist who has spoken out against Khalistani extremism. In 2023, he claimed that his car was shot at and vandalised after he criticised the Khalistan movement.In recent months, Kapoor and his wife have also posted videos warning about alleged “Love Jihad” cases in the UK and Australia. In one such video, Kapoor claimed that some young women were being “brainwashed” by Pakistani and Bangladeshi men and losing contact with their families. Those claims have been disputed by critics online.Political speculation and backgroundKapoor has also faced criticism and speculation on social media about his political leanings. Some users alleged that he had considered entering politics alongside far-right activist Tommy Robinson, though there has been no public confirmation of such plans.Others questioned his immigration background, alleging that he sought asylum in the UK as an Afghan Sikh refugee despite being originally from India. Kapoor has not publicly addressed those claims in detail.Police confirmation awaitedAs of now, British authorities have not publicly confirmed Kapoor’s reported arrest or provided details about any investigation.The controversy has sparked a heated debate online, with supporters describing Kapoor as a victim of intimidation over his religious beliefs, while critics argue that his own remarks and online posts contributed to the escalating tensions surrounding the restaurant.
