Harman Singh Kapoor, the Sikh activist and owner of the non-halal Indian restaurant Rangrez in Hammersmith, west London, was arrested by Metropolitan Police officers on Friday 14 March 2026, during a tense standoff outside his premises.
Footage circulating on social media showed Kapoor being escorted from the scene in handcuffs. According to reports, he was detained on suspicion of carrying a prohibited bladed article — identified as his kirpan, the ceremonial dagger worn as one of the five articles of Sikh faith.
The arrest came just hours after Kapoor had called on supporters to attend a rally outside Rangrez on Fulham Palace Road following Thursday night’s incident, in which a crowd of more than 100 people had gathered outside the restaurant, blocking its entrance for several hours. Prior to his arrest, Kapoor had posted videos online stating he was prepared to defend his family and that he had lost confidence in police protection.
The detention has drawn an immediate and polarised response. Supporters of Kapoor described the arrest as an example of “uneven policing,” arguing that officers had taken insufficient action against those who had blockaded the restaurant the previous evening, only to move against the owner himself the following day. Critics, however, pointed to his recorded statements about using force as relevant context.
Kapoor had been at the centre of a prolonged and escalating dispute since displaying prominent signage at Rangrez declaring the establishment “proudly non-halal,” serving only jhatka meat in keeping with Sikh tradition. The signs drew protests from local groups who regarded them as provocative, triggering months of what Kapoor described as sustained harassment, including online abuse, vandalism and threats directed at his family.
In late February 2026, the pressure led Kapoor to announce he would close Rangrez after 16 years of trading — a decision he subsequently reversed following a significant wave of public support. He also alleged his car had been shot at and vandalised in connection with his vocal opposition to Khalistani extremism.
Friday’s arrest was not his first. In May 2025, Kapoor had been detained following a separate altercation in which he was alleged to have used racially aggravated language toward a group he claimed had assaulted him.
The Metropolitan Police has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the circumstances of Friday’s arrest. The situation outside Rangrez continues to attract widespread attention on social media, with supporters gathered in the area as events develop.
