Inside Gurpreet Rehal’s controversial network 

December 7, 2025

A British Sikh businessman has come under intense scrutiny after the United Kingdom government imposed sanctions on him for allegedly supporting a pro-Khalistan terrorist organisation. Gurpreet Singh Rehal, who has been associated with the London-based global sports investment firm Panjab Warriors and its recent takeover of Morecambe Football Club, has been accused of promoting and financing the banned Khalistan militant outfit Babbar Khalsa.

The UK government’s move has prompted both Morecambe FC and Panjab Warriors to distance themselves from Rehal, who until recently had been a visible figure in the club’s new ownership structure. Rehal was widely described in British media as playing a central role in the Panjab Warriors’ summer acquisition of the lower league football club. Although not legally listed as a director or a person of significant control in the companies involved, he was publicly representing the group in several engagements.

Rehal, the chief executive officer of the organisation Saving Punjab, also owns Whitehawk Consultations. His LinkedIn page shows him receiving an award at the UK Parliament on behalf of Panjab Warriors from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for British Sikhs just days before the sanctions were announced. Panjab Warriors hailed that event as a significant milestone in its public profile. In his post, Rehal described the recognition as a reminder of the responsibility carried by the organisation, adding that the group aimed to break barriers and create new opportunities for future generations.

He had also been photographed recently meeting National League chief executive Phil Alexander on behalf of Morecambe FC, reinforcing the perception that he played an active role in the club’s affairs despite not being listed as its formal office bearer.

The situation changed sharply after the UK Treasury issued sanctions against him and some associated entities on 4 December. The Treasury stated it had assessed that Rehal was promoting and encouraging a proscribed terrorist group, carrying out recruitment-linked activities, and providing financial services intended to support Babbar Khalsa. The Khalistan militant outfit has been banned in the UK under terrorism laws.

The sanctions freeze all financial assets belonging to Rehal in the UK and extend to organisations linked to him, including Saving Punjab, Whitehawk Consultations Ltd, and Loha Designs, an unincorporated group. In addition, the order disqualifies him from serving as a director, thereby prohibiting his participation in the management of UK companies.

The Treasury also froze the assets of Babbar Akali Lehar, which it identified as an associated entity involved in Babbar Khalsa’s activities. Officials stated that the organisation was engaged in promoting and supporting the terrorist outfit and facilitating recruitment activities.

A UK government statement announcing the sanctions described the action as the first instance under the Domestic Counter-Terrorism Regime aimed specifically at disrupting financial channels linked to a pro-Khalistan militant organisation. The measure was taken under the Counter-Terrorism (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which empower authorities to freeze assets, restrict financial operations, and impose strict compliance obligations on individuals or groups suspected of terrorism involvement. The regime seeks to prevent terrorist financing and safeguard the UK’s financial system from abuse.

The government said: “The UK has today announced an asset freeze and director disqualification against Gurpreet Singh Rehal, who is suspected of belonging to organisations involved in terrorism in India.” Officials noted that the action fits within a broader framework of counter-terror initiatives targeting financial networks supporting violent extremist groups.

Babbar Khalsa, also known as Babbar Khalsa International, has been a proscribed organisation in the United Kingdom for several years. Authorities describe it as a violent Khalistani militant group responsible for terrorist activities. The Treasury’s assessment states that Babbar Akali Lehar is an “involved person” under the sanctions regulations and is associated with the operational and recruitment activities of Babbar Khalsa.

The sanctions have triggered a swift response from Morecambe FC and Panjab Warriors. Both organisations clarified that Rehal holds no formal management role and that they are cooperating fully with authorities. They have also stressed that the sanctions pertain to the individual and his entities, not to the football club or its parent company.

The development has raised serious questions about due diligence procedures in sports ownership and investment, particularly in lower league English clubs that often attract relatively new or lesser-known investors. Morecambe FC, currently competing in the National League, has not indicated whether the sanctions will have any operational impact on the club.

The case has also drawn attention within British Sikh circles and in wider Indian diaspora communities, given the continuing concerns about pro-Khalistan networks operating overseas. Indian authorities have long claimed that banned organisations continue to seek funding and support from sympathisers in Western countries.

The UK government’s action marks a significant step in its domestic counter-terror enforcement, with the explicit target being financial disruption of groups linked to Khalistani militancy. The coming weeks are likely to bring additional scrutiny of Rehal’s activities and any potential links between his ventures and the organisations named in the sanctions order.