Tuesday, February 10, 2026
ADVT 
International

Indian-Origin Councillor Gurpal Atwal Banned As Taxi Driver In UK For Indecent Behaviour

IANS, 25 Jul, 2017 12:31 PM
    A 45-year-old Indian-origin Labour councillor in the UK has been banned from working as a taxi driver for a number of offences, including alleged indecent and racist behaviour.
     
     
    A court also heard Gurpal Atwal swore and made racist comments to a man as well as using unlicenced drivers to ferry children to school.
     
     
    Atwal, councillor for Oadby and Wigston in Leicester, was denied a licence to run a taxi firm in Leicester after a court heard a string of allegations, the Daily Mirror reported.
     
     
    Loughborough Magistrates Court ruled the Leicester City Councillor was "not fit and proper" to hold a taxi licence.
     
     
    "In essence, there were a number of allegations. From 2015, there was a consistent number of complaints, no charges, but alleged offences and contact with police. The council's single sole duty is to protect the public," Council legal representative Dave Gill said.
     
     
    “I was told your client is using unlicensed drivers on school runs and then he sat in his pants outside a swimming pool because he believes that's acceptable," Borough licensing enforcement officer Tracey Aldwinckle, said.
     
     
    Further alleged misdemeanours were outlined to the court last Friday, including claims of racism and that Atwal swore at a man.
     
     
    Anthony Schiller, defending, said there was "no indication" from any member of the public of aggressive or racist behaviour.
    He said his client has worked for over 20 years as a taxi driver in Leicester.
     
     
    The court heard Atwal owned a 50 per cent stake in Handsome Cars, in Leicester, and is taking his former business partner to high court in regards to a sum of about 300,000 pounds.
     
     
    "It's often said a business dispute can be worse than a divorce. You have to use the mythical scales of justice to make the decision," Schiller said.
     
     
    Atwal denied the accusations, claiming they were "all fabricated".
     
     
    "I am not a racist person. I treat everybody fairly. They [the statements] were all fabricated to discredit my character," he said.
     
     
    Judicial official refused to renew Atwal's taxi licence which runs out next year and ordered him to pay 1,250 pounds court costs. 

    MORE International ARTICLES

    UK To Share Information On 'Sikh Separatists'

    UK To Share Information On 'Sikh Separatists'
    Britain has agreed to share information on Sikh separatist organisations operating on its soil with India, a top government official said on Thursday.

    UK To Share Information On 'Sikh Separatists'

    Hate Crime: US Man Beats Asian, Screams 'We Are White Power'

    Hate Crime: US Man Beats Asian, Screams 'We Are White Power'
    Steven Zatorski, stormed up to the 30-year-old victim on Third Avenue in New York and started kicking him on Monday, police said.

    Hate Crime: US Man Beats Asian, Screams 'We Are White Power'

    Hindu Man Arrested In Pakistan For Sharing 'Blasphemous' Content On WhatsApp

    Hindu Man Arrested In Pakistan For Sharing 'Blasphemous' Content On WhatsApp
    Prakash Kumar, a shop owner, was arrested on Wednesday in Hub area of Lasbela district in south-western province of Balochistan.

    Hindu Man Arrested In Pakistan For Sharing 'Blasphemous' Content On WhatsApp

    At UN, India Says It’s A Secular Country With No State Religion

    At UN, India Says It’s A Secular Country With No State Religion
    Mukul Rohatgi, who led the Indian delegation at the UN Human Rights Council, said India makes no distinction between caste, creed, colour or religion of a citizen.

    At UN, India Says It’s A Secular Country With No State Religion

    Indian Americans Can Help India Realise Its Full Potential

    Indian Americans Can Help India Realise Its Full Potential
    In 2010, during his first visit to India, President Barack Obama proclaimed: "I believe that India and America are indispensable partners in meeting the challenges of their times."

    Indian Americans Can Help India Realise Its Full Potential

    'Go F*** Yourself': Indian Couple Film Racist Tirade In Australia, Accent Mocked Too- WATCH

    'Go F*** Yourself': Indian Couple Film Racist Tirade In Australia, Accent Mocked Too- WATCH
    The NSW Police said that they are investigating the incident.

    'Go F*** Yourself': Indian Couple Film Racist Tirade In Australia, Accent Mocked Too- WATCH