Rangrez, a well-known Indian restaurant located in London’s Hammersmith area, has been a familiar part of the local culinary landscape for nearly sixteen years, attracting a steady stream of Indian and South Asian diners who considered it a comforting reminder of home. Over time, the restaurant gained popularity for serving a wide variety of traditional Indian dishes, including favourites such as tadka dal, karahi chicken, butter chicken, shahi paneer, and several authentic desi curries. For many members of the diaspora, Rangrez was more than just a place to eat; it functioned as a cultural hub where people gathered to enjoy familiar flavours and a sense of community. However, after years of operation, the establishment is now closing permanently following a series of troubling incidents and ongoing challenges faced by its owner.
According to Harman Singh Kapoor, the Indian Sikh entrepreneur who owns the restaurant, the decision to shut down the business was not sudden but the result of mounting pressures that intensified over the past three years. In a deeply emotional public statement shared on Tuesday, Kapoor explained that repeated disturbances, online harassment, financial strain caused by rising operational costs, and what he described as insufficient support from London’s Metropolitan Police made it impossible for him to continue running the establishment. He further alleged that the restaurant had been repeatedly targeted by Pakistani and Khalistani groups, creating an environment of fear and instability that ultimately forced him to close the doors of a business he had nurtured for over a decade and a half.
Kapoor, who also owns other ventures in London and is known for his outspoken activism, stated that this was not the first time he had faced hostility. His public stance against radical Khalistani elements has, according to him, made him a frequent target of threats and intimidation. His social media presence, particularly on Instagram where he has amassed more than 77,000 followers, contains numerous posts criticising Khalistani supporters, mocking Pakistan, and expressing dissatisfaction with both the UK police and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. These outspoken views, he claims, have drawn repeated backlash and contributed to the threats directed toward him and his businesses.
A significant source of Kapoor’s frustration with law enforcement stems from what he believes has been inadequate police response during multiple incidents involving vandalism and alleged attacks on both his residence and restaurant. In one recent incident last month, Kapoor shared footage showing a masked individual damaging his car while it was parked outside his London home. At the time, Kapoor was travelling abroad. In his post accompanying the video, he argued that the incident reflected a broader problem, claiming that law-abiding citizens were being left unprotected while offenders acted without fear of consequences. He called for immediate and stronger police intervention, describing the perceived inaction as unacceptable.
Kapoor also recounted an incident from the previous year in which he claimed he was physically attacked by a group of Pakistani individuals. According to his account, he contacted the police immediately after the confrontation. However, he alleged that he was arrested following accusations from the opposing group that he had initiated the altercation. In a video statement, Kapoor expressed anger and disbelief over the situation, suggesting that he felt unfairly treated during the incident.
His difficulties intensified further due to his vocal criticism of the Khalistani movement. In March 2023, Rangrez was temporarily forced to close after individuals allegedly linked to Khalistani supporters targeted the restaurant. Kapoor described a frightening episode in which a group of men carrying concealed weapons arrived outside the eatery, struck the glass doors, and shouted abusive slogans in Punjabi. Video footage later shared on social media showed several men dressed in black aggressively banging on the restaurant entrance. Kapoor stated that he managed to lock the doors just in time while two customers were still inside, leaving everyone present shaken and frightened by the ordeal.
In the months surrounding that incident, Kapoor also claimed that his London residence was attacked multiple times within a short span, further escalating fears for his family’s safety. He alleged that the threats extended beyond vandalism, including serious death and rape threats directed toward him and his family. According to Kapoor, these events were triggered by a TikTok video he had posted criticising the Khalistani movement and warning about what he described as increasing radical activity.
The incidents occurred during a period of heightened diplomatic tensions between India and the United Kingdom over the long-standing Khalistan issue, which involves demands by certain groups for the creation of an independent Sikh state carved out of Punjab. The attack on Rangrez came shortly after protests by supporters of Khalistani sympathiser Amritpal Singh outside the Indian High Commission in London, during which demonstrators removed the Indian national flag from the premises. The episode sparked diplomatic friction, with India accusing the UK of allowing space for extremist elements to operate freely.
Since 2023, Kapoor has said that his life has been overshadowed by persistent fear and uncertainty. In an interview given that year, he rejected the assumption that living in London guaranteed safety, explaining that despite residing in the UK for more than twenty-six years, he felt increasingly vulnerable. He noted that after posting a widely circulated video criticising the Khalistani movement, he received demands to delete the content and issue an apology, which he refused to do.
Although the closure of Rangrez marks the end of a significant chapter in London’s Indian dining scene, Kapoor views it not as a defeat but as a turning point. After years of balancing business responsibilities with activism, he has stated that he now intends to devote himself fully to advocacy work without the distractions of running a restaurant. For Kapoor, the end of Rangrez represents the beginning of a new phase focused entirely on pursuing his activist commitments.
