King Charles strips Nirpal Riat of OBE honour

King Charles III has revoked the Order of the British Empire (OBE) awarded to British Indian landlord Nirpal Singh Riat. The decision, announced by the UK Cabinet Office, follows a scandal involving substandard rental properties.

Riat, who received the honour from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for services to charity and the Punjabi community, was found to have brought the honours system into disrepute. Investigations by Hounslow Council revealed that 22 of his properties contained mold, dampness, leaks, and inadequate heating or hot water.

As a result of these conditions and illegal property conversions, Riat was issued fines totaling approximately £300,000. While Riat has dismissed some of the allegations as “fabricated” and is considering a legal challenge, the King has directed that his name be erased from the Register of the Order.