Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Exclusive: “If you raise something you are going to be targeted - you're criminalised”

Exclusive: “If you raise something you are going to be targeted - you're criminalised”

On 31 July 2015, former Met police sergeant, Gurpal Virdi, stood on the steps of Southwark Crown Court and breathed in the air.

He had just spent the week in the dock charged with a historic case of racially and sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy.


The jury took just 50 minutes to find him not guilty.

On the court steps, Virdi told journalists, “It is disturbing that the Metropolitan Police is still campaigning, targeting me and my family, year after year.

This has to stop. People have to be held to account and sacked. This ongoing campaign from 1998 has to stop.”

Summing up, the judge said the case may have been a conspiracy against the former sergeant.

For Virdi, this case continued to show how institutionally racist and out of control the Metropolitan Police were then.

His views today have not changed.

Virdi still maintains that the Met in 2022 remains institutionally racist and institutionally corrupt, despite the protestations of the outgoing commissioner, Cressida Dick.

Speaking exclusively to Eastern Eye, Virdi said, “You're talking about the Daniel Morgan case [a private detective who was murdered] where an independent inquiry found the Met to be institutionally corrupt.

“We got the Wayne Couzens, [a serving Met officer who abducted, raped and murdered Sarah Everard], that shows how deep the rotten culture is at the Met.

Then we obviously got the Charing Cross independent police report, and the officers who photographed two murdered women and sent them on WhatsApp.

These are the kind of people you're dealing with and is coming to the forefront because the Met police will not deal with the serious issues within their ranks.”

Virdi maintains that the Met arrested and charged him on flimsy evidence because he was being trained to be a future Labour councillor, and they could not allow that to happen.

His troubles began in 1998 when he had the temerity to “put his head above the parapet”.

Virdi had dealt with an attack on two Asians. It had all the hallmarks of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, only this time, the Met officer did the right things, and he made sure the victims’ families were treated properly.

The officer sent his testimony to the Macpherson inquiry which was looking into Stephen’s murder.

Met target

From that day, Virdi had a target on his back.

They accused me of sending racist letters to myself and other through the internal post.

I was dismissed from the police service, and then the case went to the employment tribunal which said that I was a victim of racial discrimination and victimisation.

Then we got an apology from the commissioner, I was reinstated, and then my career just stopped after that.

Virdi won £200,000 from his tribunal, but he told Eastern Eye that he would be regularly targeted by the Met’s directorate of professional standards (DPS).

The directorate of professional standards kept targeting me every two years on one thing or another.

So, I was a marked man, but basically, I wasn't going away.

I just did my 30 years. I wanted to do more because I really did enjoy my work, but I just had to leave because it was affecting my family.”

Miscarriage of justice?

The Met came after him again even when he had left the force.

The testimony from a man who claimed that the officer had sexually assaulted him in 1986 was, to say the least, inconsistent, said Virdi.

The defence barrister listed 10 unreliable truths during his closing argument.

It included the former officer ramming an extendable police baton up the accuser’s backside.

The problem was that such batons were not issued until 10 years later.

Virdi can never reveal his accuser’s identity.

To this day, Virdi wants justice. He wants an independent inquiry into why he was targeted and which senior officers in the Met went for him.

The Conservative MP, Sir Peter Bottomley, continues to campaign for this.

He has spoken about Virdi’s injustice regularly in parliament.

Bottomley wrote to the former prime minister, Theresa May, and the outgoing commissioner.

Even the select committee hearing into the 20th anniversary of the Macpherson report could move the dial further.

““If you raise something you are going to be targeted - you're criminalised.

None of the culprits were held to account. Sir Peter, thanks to him, he's raised it so many times in parliament, but nothing's forthcoming,” he said.

This shows that institutional racism still carries on within the Met.”

Now Virdi is asking the next commissioner to clear out completely some areas within the Met.

“We have four departments, which really, really need to be sorted,” he explained.

“We've got the DPS, we've got the police federation, the senior management team, and the directorate of legal services.

The new commissioner, that's what they should be focused on.

“Get rid of the rot.”

The Metropolitan Police have not responded to our request for a comment on this case.

More For You

Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh’s scooter ride: A viral internet hit!

Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh share the stage, creating musical magic together.

Instagram/arijitsingh

Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh’s scooter ride: A viral internet hit!

When two of the world’s most beloved singers come together, magic happens. Ed Sheeran, the global pop sensation, and Arijit Singh, India’s soulful voice, recently made headlines for their viral scooter ride through the streets of Jiaganj, Arijit’s hometown in West Bengal. The video of their casual outing has taken the internet by storm, with fans calling it the “most wholesome moment ever.”

In the viral clip, Arijit is seen driving the scooter while Ed enjoys the ride as a pillion passenger. The duo, accompanied by a few friends on other scooters, ditched heavy security and opted for the real small-town vibe. Their adventure didn’t stop there though, they also took a quiet boat ride along the Bhagirathi River enjoying the quiet beauty of Jiaganj like a true local.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rohit-Sharma-BCCI

Rohit brought up his 32nd ODI hundred with a six off Rashid but was dismissed soon after, caught by Rashid off a Livingstone full toss. (Photo: BCCI)

Rohit’s century powers India to ODI series win over England

INDIA secured the ODI series against England with a four-wicket win in the second match on Sunday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead ahead of the Champions Trophy. Captain Rohit Sharma led the chase with a 90-ball 119, helping India reach the 305-run target in 44.3 overs.

A floodlight failure delayed India’s innings for 30 minutes, but it did not affect Rohit, who struck seven sixes and 12 fours. Earlier, England posted 304 all out with one ball remaining, opting to bat first at Barabati Stadium.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi-Macron

Modi and Macron will also hold discussions in restricted and delegation-level formats and address the India-France CEO’s Forum. (Photo: X/@narendramodi)

Modi meets Macron and JD Vance in Paris

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi was welcomed by French president Emmanuel Macron at a dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris. Macron greeted Modi with a hug as they met on Monday.

"Delighted to meet my friend, President Macron in Paris," Modi posted on X.

Keep ReadingShow less
Saif Ali Khan’s first interview since home invasion: What he revealed amid controversy & conspiracy theories

Saif Ali Khan opens up about the harrowing night he fought off an armed intruder in his Mumbai home

Saif Ali Khan’s first interview since home invasion: What he revealed amid controversy & conspiracy theories

In a shocking turn of events, Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan found himself in a real-life thriller when an armed intruder broke into his Mumbai residence in the dead of night. What was supposed to be just another peaceful evening in the Khan household turned into a night of horror, leaving Saif with multiple injuries and raising serious questions about celebrity security in India.

It all began when Saif, in his kurta-pyjama, heard unusual noises near his son Jeh’s room. What followed was a violent struggle with an intruder armed with two knives. “I didn’t realise it was a knife at first,” Saif recalled. “There was too much adrenaline. He was slashing at my neck, and I was blocking it with my hands. My palms, wrists, and arms were cut, but I didn’t feel the pain immediately.”

Speaking to Times of India, the actor shared how his quick reflexes and the sharp presence of mind of his househelp, Geeta, saved the day. “I was praying someone would get him off me,” Saif admitted. “Geeta was incredible. She shoved him away, and we managed to close the door.”

Meanwhile, Kareena Kapoor Khan sprang into action, ensuring their children, Taimur and Jeh, were safe. “Kareena was shouting, ‘Take the kid out!’” Saif shared. “She got Jeh out of harm’s way while I was still grappling with the intruder.”

What makes this story even more astonishing is the extent of Saif’s injuries. A knife had penetrated his back, nicking his spinal cord and causing spinal fluid to leak. “The doctors said it was a millimetre away from paralysis,” Saif revealed. “It’s a miracle I can walk.”

Despite the severity of his wounds, Saif remained remarkably composed. “I told Kareena, ‘I’m fine. I’m not going to die.’ Taimur asked me the same thing, and I reassured him too,” he said. The family’s decision to take an autorickshaw to the hospital made the situation feel all the more unreal. “The rickshaw driver saw the blood but stayed calm. He even took shortcuts to avoid bumps,” Saif recalled with a laugh.

While the physical scars are healing, the emotional impact lingers. Saif’s children have reacted in their own ways. “Jeh gave me a plastic sword and said, ‘Keep this by your bed for the next time the chor comes,’” Saif shared with a chuckle. Taimur, ever the composed one, has shown concern about security but remains unfazed.

As for the intruder, Saif harbours no hatred. “Taimur said he should be forgiven because he might have been hungry,” Saif said. “I understand desperation, but he crossed a line when he tried to kill me.”

Saif’s ordeal has sparked debates about celebrity security and urban safety. Yet, the actor remains unfazed. “I don’t believe in walking around with bodyguards. This wasn’t a targeted attack; it was a burglary gone wrong,” he insisted.

“It’s brought us closer as a family,” he admitted. “Kareena has been incredibly strong, and the kids have shown maturity beyond their years.”

This horrifying incident is more than just a celebrity scare rather, it’s a wake-up call. If someone as high-profile as Saif Ali Khan can be targeted in his own home, what does that say about the safety of the common citizen? The conversation around home security, particularly for public figures, is one that can no longer be ignored.

And if there’s one thing we’ve learnt, it’s this: never underestimate a man in a kurta-pyjama. Especially if his name is Saif Ali Khan!

Keep ReadingShow less