London: King Charles III has annulled the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) honor awarded to British businessman and Indian-origin peer Lord Rami Ranger due to an alleged breach of parliamentary Code of Conduct related to “bullying and harassment.” This decision was officially announced on December 7, 2024, following concerns about Ranger’s conduct, which reportedly brought the honors system into disrepute.
Lord Rami Ranger, founder of the UK-based company Sun Mark and Sea Air and Land Forwarding, was originally awarded the CBE in December 2015 for his contributions to British business and the Asian community. His representatives have criticized the annulment, describing it as “unjust” and alleging a lack of transparency in the process. They emphasized that he has not committed any crime and plans to challenge the decision through legal avenues to restore his name.
The Cabinet Office’s guidelines stipulate that honors can be revoked if someone is found guilty of a crime, is censured by a regulatory body, or engages in conduct that brings the honors system into disrepute. The Forfeiture Committee, which made the recommendation for the annulment, does not conduct investigations but bases its decisions on findings from official inquiries.
Ranger has expressed devastation over the loss of his CBE, stating that he has taken steps to address his past conduct, including undergoing rehabilitative training. His legal team is exploring options to contest the decision that they view as shameful, particularly given the way in which the honor has been revoked. The situation follows a prior investigation into Ranger’s conduct during a Diwali event at the Houses of Parliament in October 2022.