London, UK:  Prominent British Indian figures, Lord Rami Ranger and Anil Bhanot, have been stripped of their honours in a controversial move. Ranger, a Tory peer, lost his CBE (Commander of the British Empire), while Bhanot, a trustee of the Hindu Council UK, was stripped of his OBE (Officer of the British Empire).

The forfeiture, announced in the London Gazette, was approved by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III, citing alleged actions bringing the honours system into disrepute. Both figures have denounced the decision as an attack on free speech.

Bhanot faced accusations of Islamophobia over tweets about violence against Hindus in Bangladesh in 2021, though earlier inquiries cleared him. Ranger criticized the move as undermining free speech, linking it to complaints about his defense of PM Modi and remarks on a BBC documentary.

Both vow to challenge the decisions, with Ranger considering judicial and European court reviews.