Indian Sikh family accused of using Afghan identity to enter UK, court case delayed to 2026
According to the British newspaper Daily Mail, the court hearing for an Indian Sikh family accused of identity fraud at Heathrow Airport in London will not take place until 2026. The family is facing charges of identity falsification and violating UK immigration laws.
Following their claim, the UK government relocated the Sikh family to a luxury hotel in Hemel Hempstead, a town northwest of London, treating them like other Afghan refugees. They were later provided accommodation in the same area.
The Daily Mail reported that 72-year-old Gurbaksh Singh, his wife Ardit Kaur, 68, their son Guljit Singh, 44, and daughter-in-law Kualjit Kaur, 37, claimed to be Afghan nationals upon arriving at Heathrow Airport in London before Christmas 2023.
Investigations later revealed that the family had previously applied twice for UK visas as Indian citizens, but their applications were denied. They were accused of identity fraud to exploit special benefits granted to Afghan refugees, such as citizenship, financial support, and free housing.
The case of the Indian Sikh family accused of using Afghan identities to enter the UK comes at a time when Afghan nationals stranded in Pakistan are facing increasing challenges, further complicated by a recent order signed by President Trump.
Trump’s administration took a hard stance on immigration, tightening restrictions and limiting pathways for displaced Afghans seeking to rebuild their lives. His policies have contributed to the ongoing struggles faced by Afghan refugees who continue to seek safety and stability in the UK and beyond.
The UK government is expected to spend £328,000 on the family from their arrival until February 2026, Daily Mail reported.
The Times of India had earlier identified the four individuals as an “Indian Sikh family” in a report published on December 29, 2024.
According to the Daily Mail, the family’s court hearing took place last Thursday but was postponed to February next year due to the absence of a Persian/Dari or Punjabi interpreter.
After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, hundreds of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus fled to India, with many later migrating to countries such as Canada and other immigration-friendly nations.
The case of the Indian Sikh family has raised concerns about immigration fraud and the exploitation of refugee support systems in the UK.
The delayed court proceedings highlight the complexities involved in handling immigration-related legal cases and the challenges authorities face in verifying refugee claims.
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