‘Police refused to help’: Indian-Sikh restaurant owner Harman Kapoor speaks out amid ‘not halal’ controversy after release

An Indian-Sikh restaurant owner in west London claims the Metropolitan Police “repeatedly refused” to help his family despite serious threats hours after he was detained and later released hours after a tense confrontation outside his restaurant.Rangrez’s boss Harman Singh Kapoor claimed in a social media post that his “outburst” was due to months of intimidation.He wrote: “Many people are unhappy with my attacks on radicals who continue to make my life a living hell.” He added: “The Metropolitan Police have repeatedly refused to help my family when a group of unruly radicals threatened to kill and rape us.”He also posted a video after his release of supporters gathering outside the restaurant and called his arrest “illegal.”

‘Non-halal’ stance sparks months of tension

At the center of the controversy is Rangrez, a neighborhood Indian restaurant in west London that has been operating for about 16 years and has announced plans to close.Kapoor said the company had been under continued pressure after publicly announcing it would not serve halal meat. A prominent sign outside the restaurant reads: “Proudly, we do not sell halal food.”Kapoor said that, as a Sikh, he prefers to serve jhatka meat, a method of slaughter that requires quick blows and which some Sikhs consider religiously permissible.According to him, the decision sparked months of backlash, including false online comments, threats and repeated confrontations.

Crowds gather and the situation escalates

Tensions came to a head on March 14 when Kapoor promoted a “non-halal party” at a restaurant, asking supporters to attend and document any disturbances.Later in the day, a large crowd gathered outside the restaurant in Hammersmith, with social media posts saying more than 100 people surrounded the restaurant. Videos shared online showed a heated atmosphere, with Kapoor describing the situation as threatening.Fearing for his family’s safety, he said he carried a “kirpan,” a Sikh ceremonial knife, for protection.

arrest and release

Kapoor said he was detained by the Metropolitan Police hours after the crowd began to disperse, allegedly for carrying a religious dagger.Police have not issued a detailed public statement clarifying the circumstances of the arrest or whether any charges will be filed.Kapoor was later released and later posted a video showing supporters gathering outside the restaurant. In another post, he wrote: “I can’t even hold a knife anymore or even eat. I could be arrested by the Metropolitan Police.”What started as a dispute over halal and non-halal food has evolved into a wider cultural and political controversy. Kapoor’s supporters claim he was targeted for exercising his religious beliefs and protecting his business, while critics say the situation has been exacerbated by provocative messages on social media and heightened tensions.